Breaking stereotypes, one line of code at a time

In the 2023 survey, Malta emerged as the European Union's unexpected but well-deserved champion in a field shaping the future – coding. Teen girls across the island are engaging with programming at a rate unmatched anywhere else in Europe. This is a proud statistic for Malta and a hopeful sign for a continent still grappling with gender imbalance in the digital economy. At a time when many EU countries are struggling to get even a fraction of their female youth into coding, Malta has set a shining example of how focused educational policy and cultural change can deliver real impact. But this is more than a cause for national pride. It's a moment to pause and understand why female participation in coding – and the broader ICT sector – matters so deeply for our collective future.

Malta's leading share of teen girls in coding isn't just a number – it's a signal that the digital world is becoming more inclusive, at least on our shores. In countries like Romania (1.3%), Cyprus (1.6%), and even Sweden (1.7%), girls remain largely absent from coding classrooms, meaning vast potential remains untapped. By contrast, Malta's young women are leaning into this future-facing skill. Why does this matter? Because the tech sector – which is growing faster than most industries – continues to suffer from a chronic gender imbalance. Despite women making up 51% of the EU population and 57% of all university graduates, they represent just 19% of ICT specialists. The same imbalance is reflected in leadership roles, start-up funding, and even product development, where the absence of female perspectives can lead to serious blind spots in design and ethics.

The economic case for addressing this gap is clear. According to several EU and international reports, boosting women's participation in ICT could add up to €600 billion to the EU economy by 2027. A more balanced workforce would also help close the digital skills gap, which is becoming a significant hurdle as economies increasingly depend on tech. The EU wants to see 20 million ICT professionals by 2030 – we are barely halfway there. Encouraging more women to enter the field isn't just a gender equality issue – it's a workforce necessity. And when they do enter, they often outperform expectations. Female-led start-ups, for instance, tend to generate better returns for investors. Mixed-gender teams are more innovative, productive, and better at solving complex problems. Simply put, the presence of women in technology makes the entire sector stronger, smarter, and more socially aware.

So, what makes Malta different? The data doesn't fully explain it, but there are some clues. Malta's education system has made notable progress in embedding digital literacy from a young age. Programmes that introduce coding in primary school, teacher training in digital skills, and extracurricular clubs like Girls Who Code or STEM after-school programmes play a role. There has also been growing public awareness, thanks to EU funding and local initiatives aimed at digital inclusion. Teachers and policymakers have taken the message seriously: if you want girls to grow into confident digital citizens, you must start early, encourage curiosity, and remove barriers before they harden into doubts.

Contrast that with other countries where traditional gender roles remain deeply entrenched or where ICT education is either optional or poorly resourced. In many places, girls still receive subtle messages that tech is for boys – through the toys they're given, the TV shows they watch, or how classrooms are structured. These stereotypes carry into secondary school and beyond, shaping choices that become career paths. Even when women enter the tech field, they often face a workplace culture that is male-dominated, biased, and unwelcoming. The result? Women leave tech jobs at double the rate of men, frequently citing poor work-life balance, lack of advancement, or discrimination.

It doesn't have to be this way. Malta's success story proves that with the right support systems, cultural shifts, and targeted investment, girls do want to code. And they can excel at it. But Malta shouldn't get too comfortable. Being a leader comes with responsibility. Sustaining this progress will mean deepening the reforms that brought us here in the first place. We need to ensure coding remains an integral part of the curriculum – not just a short-term project or extracurricular novelty. Teachers must be supported with resources and training, especially in state schools. Female role models in tech must be more visible on posters or websites, in classrooms, in public talks, and in career fairs. Tech firms in Malta, both large and small, should commit to diversity in hiring, mentoring, and management. Creating safe, inclusive spaces where women feel valued and heard isn't just good ethics – it's good business.

At the same time, Malta can serve as a model for other EU countries seeking to close their gender gap in ICT. Sharing best practices, collaborating on EU-funded initiatives, and supporting cross-border mentoring schemes can multiply the impact of what's already working. And for all the statistics, it's important not to lose sight of the human element. Every girl who learns to code is gaining more than a technical skill – she's learning problem-solving, creative thinking, and self-confidence. These qualities will serve her in the future – whether she becomes a software engineer, a digital artist, or an entrepreneur.

We are living in a time when nearly every aspect of life is shaped by technology. From how we work and learn to how we socialise and solve global challenges – digital tools are front and centre. That means the people building these tools will shape the kind of world we live in. If only one part of society gets to decide what that world looks like, we risk embedding inequality into the foundations of the future. But if we make space for everyone – regardless of gender – then we have a fighting chance of building a digital world that reflects all of us.

Malta's teen girls have shown the way. Now, educators, policymakers, parents, and industry leaders must ensure that the door stays open and that more young women feel confident walking through it. After all, the future of Europe's digital success depends on them.