The Role of Women’s Empowerment in Advancing Sustainable Development: A Bibliometric Analysis of Contributions to the SDG Agenda

Abstract

Women’s empowerment is central to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (gender equality), while also influencing a broader range of goals including poverty alleviation, education, health, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. This study presents a bibliometric review to assess how women's empowerment contributes to the attainment of SDGs across various domains. Using VOSviewer software, a bibliometric analysis was conducted on literature published between 2012 and 2024, sourced from the Scopus database. A total of 79 peer-reviewed, open-access research articles in English were selected from an initial pool of 369 studies, based on defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The review examines publication trends over time, most cited authors and articles, journal and country-wise distribution, citation networks, and keyword co-occurrence. The findings indicate that 2024 recorded the highest number of publications, with India leading in research output. The journal Sustainability contributed the most documents, and Kathryn M. Yount emerged as the most influential author. Keyword analysis revealed 10 clusters, from which three core thematic areas were identified, with “women empowerment” and “SDG” being the most frequently occurring keywords. The study highlights women’s empowerment as a catalyst for progress in key SDG areas such as poverty reduction (SDG 1), quality education (SDG 4), health and well-being (SDG 3), and climate action (SDG 13). While education, financial inclusion, and policy support act as key enablers, gender-based discrimination and socio-cultural barriers hinder progress. This review underscores the need for integrated, gender-focused strategies in advancing sustainable development.