Women Cultural Entrepreneurs in Italy: numbers and statistical data 2024

Observatory |

June 26, 2024

The world of female businesses in the cultural sector in Italy. These courageous and talented women are shaping the cultural and creative landscape of our country.

HERE IS SOME DATA THAT WILL HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR INFLUENCE AND THEIR COMMITMENT.

Women entrepreneurs in general:

Percentage of Women Entrepreneurs: In 2023, 22% of entrepreneurs in Italy are women. This number had a huge drop after Covid (in 2021 it was 30%) but today it is constantly growing, and women are proving to be passionate and innovative leaders. There are as many as 1.3 million women-run businesses in Italy (in 2014 there were 1.2 million.
Sector of Activity: The majority of cultural entrepreneurs operate in the Services sector (90.7%). This includes everything from art galleries to publishing houses, from theaters to communications agencies. The women are carrying out projects that celebrate Italian art, literature, music and history.
Level of Education: 34.5% of female cultural entrepreneurs have obtained a tertiary qualification. This shows that education is a key factor for entrepreneurial success. Women are investing in their education to create lasting impacts.
Average Age: Female cultural entrepreneurs are on average younger than their male colleagues, with an average age of 49 years. This suggests that new generations of women are embracing cultural entrepreneurship with passion and determination.
Businesses Without Employees: Nearly one million women run a business without employees (64.8%). This means that many of them are autonomous, creative and ready to challenge the status quo.
Difficulty in accessing credit: women entrepreneurs encounter greater difficulties than men in obtaining financing.
Gender Balance at EU level: At European level, women represent 29.7% of Italian entrepreneurs and 30.6% of non-EU entrepreneurs operating in Italy. The European Union is promoting gender equality in entrepreneurship, and Italian women are part of this revolution.