Photo: KlausFoehl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 08 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Palestine: Gender & Equality
How wide is the gap between women's and men's lives?
Palestine is placed 177th of 183 countries on gender & equality in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Women, Business and the Law 26.25 (2025); Firms with a Female Top Manager 2.744 (2025).
Share
Gender & Equality
177th
of 183 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
- 26.25Women, Business and the Law, 2025WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity)
- —Women's Political Empowerment Index, 2025No reading for this country
- 2.744Firms with a Female Top Manager, 2025Firms with a female top manager (%)
- 51Social Institutions and Gender Index, 2023SIGI score (0 = no discrimination, 100 = absolute)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Palestine on gender & equality — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
26.25
WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity)
Higher is better
Palestine: 26.25. Across the 190 countries in this edition, values run from 3.125 (Afghanistan) to 100 (Sweden); the world median is 81.25.
- World median
- 81.25
- Best in Western Asia
- 96.88 Cyprus
- Land neighbours
- Egypt 61.88 · Israel 80.63 · Jordan 61.88
Key 2 of 4
Women's Political Empowerment Index
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
No reading
Women's political empowerment index (0–1)
Higher is better
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg publishes no 2025 figure for Palestine, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from 0.028 (Afghanistan) to 0.954 (Denmark); the world median is 0.772.
- World median
- 0.772
- Best in Western Asia
- 0.875 Armenia
- Land neighbours
- Egypt 0.547 · Israel 0.862 · Jordan 0.669
Key 3 of 4
Firms with a Female Top Manager
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2016–2025 · Palestine’s is from 2023 · CC BY 4.0
2.744
Firms with a female top manager (%)
Higher is better
Palestine: 2.744. Across the 179 countries at their latest reading, values run from 1.429 (Qatar) to 62.9 (Kiribati); the world median is 19.16.
- World median
- 19.16
- Best in Western Asia
- 28.23 Armenia
- Land neighbours
- Egypt 6.325 · Israel 9.28 · Jordan 1.759
Key 4 of 4
Social Institutions and Gender Index
OECD
2023 edition · data for 2023 · OECD Terms and Conditions — data clause
51
SIGI score (0 = no discrimination, 100 = absolute)
Lower is better
Palestine: 51. Across the 140 countries in this edition, values run from 6.7 (Norway) to 67.4 (Mauritania); the world median is 25.2.
- World median
- 25.2
- Best in Western Asia
- 23.7 Armenia
- Land neighbours
- Egypt 54.6 · Israel 31.6 · Jordan 58.5
02Over time
Which way Palestine is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Women, Business and the Law
WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity) · higher is better
PalestineWorld median
Palestine was at 26.25 in both 2000 and 2025; the world median went from 63.13 to 81.25.
Every year’s figures
Year Palestine World median 2025 26 81.3 2023 26 81.3 2022 26 80.3 2021 26 80.0 2020 26 79.7 2019 26 78.8 2018 38 77.5 2017 38 77.5 2016 26 76.9 2015 26 75.9 2014 26 75.6 2013 26 75.0 2012 26 73.8 2011 26 73.1 2010 26 73.1 2009 26 72.5 2008 26 71.3 2007 26 69.7 2006 26 68.8 2005 26 67.2 2004 26 66.9 2003 26 64.7 2002 26 63.8 2001 26 63.8 2000 26 63.1
03In context
Palestine beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 183 countries on gender & equality, never a place within the region.
Palestine and the countries it borders
Standing among all 183; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Women, Business and the LawWBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity) | Women's Political Empowerment IndexWomen's political empowerment index (0–1) | Firms with a Female Top ManagerFirms with a female top manager (%) | Social Institutions and Gender IndexSIGI score (0 = no discrimination, 100 = absolute) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Israel | =116th | 80.63 | 0.862 | 9.28 | 31.6 |
 Jordan | 161st | 61.88 | 0.669 | 1.759 | 58.5 |
 Egypt | 162nd | 61.88 | 0.547 | 6.325 | 54.6 |
| Palestine | 177th | 26.25 | — | 2.744 | 51 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Western Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 183.
Placed either side on gender & equality
The countries immediately above and below Palestine in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Palestine is ahead of the world, and behind
20 more statistics filed under gender & equality, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median5
Statistics on which Palestine does better than the middle country measured.
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 8194.881No earlier reading
Palestine: 94.8 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.
Position 22nd of 153 · derived.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.999.496.9No earlier reading
Palestine: 99.4 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.6516.1146.65▲ Improved since 2013
Palestine: 16.11 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 132nd of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Women Who Think a Husband Is Justified in Hitting or Beating His WifeUNICEF · 2025 · world median 22.415.722.4No earlier reading
Palestine: 15.7 · world median 22.4 · Women aged 15-49 who say a husband is justified in hitting or beating his wife (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.2 to 80.2; lower is better.
Position 77th of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.
Child MarriageUNICEF · 2025 · world median 17.113.417.1No earlier reading
Palestine: 13.4 · world median 17.1 · Women 20–24 married before 18 (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.3; lower is better.
Position 88th of 143 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median9
Statistics on which Palestine does worse than the middle country measured.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.256471.25▼ Worsened since 2013
Palestine: 64 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 116th of 196 · derived.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.4636.0427.46No real change since 2013
Palestine: 36.04 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 90th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gender Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.9710.9450.971▲ Improved since 2013
Palestine: 0.945 · world median 0.971 · Gender Development Index (1.000 = parity). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.407 to 1.038; higher is better.
Position 126th of 184 · derived.
Gender Social Norms IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 91.8198.0891.81No earlier reading
Palestine: 98.08 · world median 91.81 · People with at least one bias against gender equality (%). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 27.39 to 99.92; lower is better.
Position 26th of 91 · derived, 1st = worst.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 303▼ Worsened since 2015
Palestine: 0 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 987098▼ Worsened since 2015
Palestine: 70 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Female Share of Senior and Middle ManagementILO · 2024 · world median 35.8624.4335.86No real change since 2014
Palestine: 24.43 · world median 35.86 · Women in senior and middle management (% of managers). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.226 to 56.69; higher is better.
Position 76th of 86 · derived.
Firms with Female Participation in OwnershipWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 35.1211.7735.12No earlier reading
Palestine: 11.77 · world median 35.12 · Firms with at least one woman among the owners (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.273 to 86.78; higher is better.
Position 163rd of 181 · derived.
Account Ownership Among WomenWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 71.2427.7371.24▼ Worsened since 2014
Palestine: 27.73 · world median 71.24 · Women with an account (% of women aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 11.91 to 99.85; higher is better.
Position 128th of 139 · derived.
No better end6
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Female Share of STEM GraduatesUIS · 2023 · world median 35.348.4435.3Moved since 2015
Palestine: 48.44 · world median 35.3 · STEM graduates who are women (%; 50 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.333 to 55.96.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.6525.820.65No earlier reading
Palestine: 25.8 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
Sex Ratio at BirthUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 105.1105.1105.1No real change since 2013
Palestine: 105.1 · world median 105.1 · Male births per 100 female births. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 101.1 to 116.3.
Mean Age at First Marriage, WomenUN DESA Population Division · 2019 · world median 24.6522.124.65No earlier reading
Palestine: 22.1 · world median 24.65 · Singulate mean age at marriage, women (years). UN DESA Population Division, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 17 to 34.
Female Share of ResearchersUIS · 2024 · world median 38.1722.5938.17No earlier reading
Palestine: 22.59 · world median 38.17 · Researchers who are women (% of headcount; 50 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.54.
Female-Headed HouseholdsUN DESA Population Division · 2026 · world median 33.2110.4833.21No earlier reading
Palestine: 10.48 · world median 33.21 · Households headed by a woman (% of households). UN DESA Population Division, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 5.33 to 64.59.
No current reading for Palestine
Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff (last 2020), Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Female Labour Force Participation Rate (last 2022), Gender Inequality Index, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment (last 2023), Global Gender Parity Index, Legal Guarantees of Women's Equal Rights to Land, Women's Empowerment Index, Women's Political Empowerment Index and Women's Share of Agricultural Landowners. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Gender & Equality among Palestine’s 12 topics
Gender & Equality is Palestine’s 12th best-placed topic of 12. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainability24th of 1862/4 keys
- Energy70th of 1652/3 keys
- Poverty & Inequalityjoint 70th of 1592/3 keys
- Digital & Technology108th of 1982/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital119th of 1963/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience125th of 1932/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing140th of 2003/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge140th of 1983/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions140th of 1942/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation156th of 1763/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties180th of 1982/4 keys
- Gender & Equality177th of 1833/4 keys
No standing on Work & Labour, Peace & Security, Mobility & Trade, Food & Agriculture: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on gender & equality
The three countries placed highest of 183, and the leaders Palestine can most readily be measured against.
1
LatviaNorthern Europe
1st of 183 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Marcin Szala · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
TaiwanEastern Asia
2nd of 183 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: xiangyang17 · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
3
ItalySouthern Europe
3rd of 183 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Francisco Antunes · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
Taiwan2nd3/4 keysHighest in Western Asia
Armenia=34th4/4 keysThis page
Palestine177th3/4 keys
Positions out of 183 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Palestine on gender & equality: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Palestine rank on gender & equality?
Palestine is placed 177th of 183 countries on Gender & Equality in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (Women, Business and the Law, Firms with a Female Top Manager and Social Institutions and Gender Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Women, Business and the Law figure for Palestine?
26.25 in 2025 (wBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 81.25.
What is the latest Firms with a Female Top Manager figure for Palestine?
2.744 in 2025 (firms with a female top manager (%)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 19.16.
How does Palestine compare with Egypt on gender & equality?
Egypt is placed 162nd of 183, and Palestine 177th. Women, Business and the Law: Egypt 61.88, Palestine 26.25; Firms with a Female Top Manager: Egypt 6.325, Palestine 2.744; Social Institutions and Gender Index: Egypt 54.6, Palestine 51.
How have Palestine’s gender & equality figures changed?
Women, Business and the Law was 26.25 in both 2000 and 2025.
Which gender & equality statistics are missing for Palestine?
No current reading is published for Palestine on Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Female Labour Force Participation Rate, Gender Inequality Index, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment, Global Gender Parity Index, Legal Guarantees of Women's Equal Rights to Land, Women's Empowerment Index, Women's Political Empowerment Index and Women's Share of Agricultural Landowners. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Violence against women is not a key here, because comparable data covers too few countries. The Gender Inequality Index is published here as context rather than as a key: its reading is driven largely by maternal and adolescent health, which moves with a country’s overall development and is already measured under Development and Health. Women’s labour force participation, women in management and child marriage are published here as context too.
How the Gender & Equality standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The gender & equality method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Women, Business and the Law — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Women's Political Empowerment Index — V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Firms with a Female Top Manager — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Social Institutions and Gender Index — OECD, OECD Terms and Conditions — data clause
The other 20 statistics on this page come from 7 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Palestine’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Palestine (banner) — KlausFoehl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Latvia — Marcin Szala, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Taiwan — xiangyang17, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Italy — Francisco Antunes, CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Palestine: Gender & Equality — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/palestine/gender