ANBOTOk, in collaboration with local media from Tokikome and EITB, has launched a new initiative examining mobility. The media outlets have committed to analyzing various facets of mobility, and this publication has focused on gender to profile drivers in the region. Data from the research firm IKEI was used to understand road usage.
The data reveals that the gender gap is not as pronounced as in other societal areas. Nevertheless, despite women being a slight majority in the population, men hold a slightly larger presence on the road: 43% of drivers are women, and 57% are men.
This trend is also evident in the figures: over a decade, the presence of female drivers has increased by 1.5 percentage points. For instance, in 2014, 4,536 women held a driving license in the region, representing 41.9% of drivers. Ten years later, in 2024, women accounted for 43.3% of drivers.
The data also provides insights into other trends and specific cases. According to IKEI's database, the number of female drivers has significantly increased in Izurtza. In 2014, more than half of the women in the municipality held a driving license (55%). Ten years later, considering population proportionality, it was three out of four (75%).
Similar trends can be found in other municipalities, although the shifts are more modest. In Mallabia, for example, 56% of drivers were women in 2014. In 2024, the figure rose by nearly ten points: 65% of Mallabia's women took to the road.
The trend has been similar among women in Garaia, increasing from 51% to 60%. And in Mañaria, although more modestly, the number of female drivers has also grown, from 56% to 60%.
It is noteworthy that all the listed municipalities are predominantly rural. This highlights another reality: public transport and its connections may be scarcer in rural settings, potentially increasing the need for private vehicles compared to urban centers.
In Durango and Amorebieta-Etxano, for instance, 48% of women held a driving license in 2014. In 2024, this figure rose to 51%, an increase of three points. The situation is similar in Zornotza.
Beyond the data, the investigation also ventured out to find personal stories. Mila Arana Goikoetxea, an 82-year-old driver, shared that she uses her car daily, considering it an essential tool for errands while living in the peaceful area of Axpe. Additionally, Eneritz Urzuriaga explored another facet of automobiles, examining the growing prominence of women in the world of rallies and motorsports.
