Melinda Gates, co-chair of the philanthropic organisation, told the Women Deliver conference in Copenhagen that the foundation’s partners across governments, voluntary bodies and other donors had agreed a statement of principles on gender data and its importance for accelerating development.

Gates said data was important for its ability to demonstrate the size and nature of social or economic problems, and the lack of comprehensive, current information about women and girls, especially in developing countries, hindered efforts to advance gender equality.

She said: “By adopting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals the world agreed to achieve gender equality by 2030.

“But we cannot close the gender gap without first closing the data gap. We simply don't know enough about the barriers holding women and girls back, nor do we have sufficient information to track progress against the promises made.”

Topics on which the foundation will seek data will include how much time women and girls spend on unpaid work, and understanding the implications of this for their opportunities to completing education, get jobs or start businesses.

Executive director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said: "The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aims ‘to leave no one behind’. To bring all women and girls to the finishing line in 2030 at the same time as everyone else, we must be able to target them and their needs, and see what progress we are making.”