The EU-GenDip Dataset on Gender and EU Diplomatic Representation

A unique dataset

The European External Action Service (EEAS) was created in 2011 to externally represent the European Union. It is the world’s only supranational diplomatic service and one of the largest diplomatic services in the world. The EU is represented through 135 (bilateral) EU delegations (2024), each of them headed by an EU ambassador/head of delegation. EU’s diplomatic system is staffed by EU civil servants and diplomats from diplomatic services of EU member states. The EU delegations were preceded by European Commission’s delegations prior to 2011.

Although the two first appointees to the office of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (“EU foreign minister”) were female, women were significantly underrepresented in the EEAS in its early days. Now, after fourteen years since the inception of the service, we can observe patterns and test hypotheses about gender representation in EU ambassadorial appointments. Currently, with 38.06% of EU ambassadors being female (2024), the EU is significantly above world’s average but also far from achieving gender parity.

The EU-GenDip dataset is made compatible with the main GenDip dataset, allowing for comparative analyses. Users are encouraged to build on this dataset to expand it by data points (EU ambassadors in multilateral postings, heads of European Commission’s delegations, subsequent postings after 2024) and/or variables (nationality, career background, etc.).
 

EU-GenDip Dataset

Dataset 2011-2024: Find the dataset on this link.

Please use the following reference when using the dataset: de Silva, Monika (2025) The EU-GenDip Dataset, version July 25. University of Gothenburg: The GenDip Program: https://www.gu.se/en/gendip/the-eu-gendip-dataset-on-gender-and-eu-diplomatic-representation

Codebook

Link to codebook: EU-GenDip dataset 2011-2024

Acknowledgements

The publication of this dataset was made possible thanks to data collected by Bence Juhász and Sevval Salman, GenDip interns.

I also wish to acknowledge feedback and assistance from colleagues: Lisbeth Aggestam, Kajsa Evertsson, Sindre Gade Viksand, Katarzyna Jezierska, Haley McEwen, Natalia Natsika, and Ann Towns.

IIf you have any comment or question about the EU-GenDip datset, please contact us by sending an email to GenDip researcher Monika de Silva (monika.de.silva@gu.se).