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Topic 08 of 18 · Country Index 2026

Gender & Equality

How wide is the gap between women's and men's lives?

Latvia is placed first of 183 countries on gender & equality in the Country Index 2026, and Yemen 183rd. The standing rests on 4 key statistics; the other 29 on this page are published as context, with no vote.

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08

4 key statistics

Placed first · Country Index 2026Latvia

1st of 183

01Country Index 2026

Who leads on gender & equality

The three countries placed highest of 183, the three placed lowest, and the country placed highest on each continent. Each position is a place in this topic’s own list, built from its key statistics.

  1. 1

    Latvia

    Northern Europe

    1st of 183 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: Marcin Szala · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  2. 2

    Taiwan

    Eastern Asia

    2nd of 183 · 3 of 4 keys

    Photo: xiangyang17 · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale

  3. 3

    Italy

    Southern Europe

    3rd of 183 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: Francisco Antunes · CC BY 2.0, greyscale

Placed lowest on Gender & Equality

  1. 183Yemen2/4 keys
  2. 182Sudan3/4 keys
  3. 181Iran3/4 keys

Positions out of 183. A standing is relative: it says where a country places against the others measured, not that it scored zero.

Placed first on each continent · position among all 183

02The subject

About gender & equality

The distance between women's and men's lives, measured two different ways: the gap in real outcomes across work, education, health and political power, and the gap written into law. A country can grant full legal parity and still show a wide outcome gap, so a score here is only read properly with both.

Gender equality is measured three ways here, because the gap has three places to live. It lives in outcomes: how much political power women actually hold, and how many of them run the businesses they work in. It lives in law: whether the statute book treats women and men the same in work, pay, marriage and property. And it lives in custom: the social norms and institutions that shape what women can do regardless of what the law says.

The three often disagree. A country can remove discrimination from its laws while outcomes lag for a generation, or keep unequal laws on the books that custom has quietly moved past. A standing here is only read properly with all three in view.

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.

03The evidence

The 4 statistics that decide it

These are the only statistics that place countries on gender & equality — one vote each. Every number is somebody else’s research, reproduced without adjustment; the ordering on top is this site’s.

  1. Key 1 of 4

    Women, Business and the Law

    World Bank Group

    Why it is a key: The gap written into the statute book, which a country can close while outcomes lag for a generation.

    Edition used
    2026data for 2025
    Countries
    190
    Publisher’s rank
    None — values only
    Licence
    CC BY 4.0
    Every country, every edition

  2. Key 2 of 4

    Firms with a Female Top Manager

    World Bank Group

    Why it is a key: The share of firms whose top manager is a woman: economic power held, beside the political power and the legal and social rules the other keys in this subject measure.

    Edition used
    2025data for 2025
    Countries
    170
    Publisher’s rank
    None — values only
    Licence
    CC BY 4.0

    Current leader, 2025 editionKiribati

    Every country, every edition

  3. Key 3 of 4

    Women's Political Empowerment Index

    V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg

    Why it is a key: Political power held by women in practice — their civil liberties, their part in civil society and their share of political office — where the law and custom keys measure the rules they live under.

    Edition used
    2025data for 2025
    Countries
    176
    Publisher’s rank
    None — values only
    Licence
    CC BY-SA 4.0

    Current leader, 2025 editionDenmark

    Every country, every edition

  4. Key 4 of 4

    Social Institutions and Gender Index

    OECD

    Why it is a key: Discrimination in social institutions and norms. Correlates 0.850 with Women, Business and the Law, inside the 0.92 bar, and kept because law and custom diverge widely.

    Edition used
    2023data for 2023
    Countries
    140
    Publisher’s rank
    None — values only
    Licence
    OECD Terms and Conditions — data clause

    Most affected, 2023 editionMauritania

    Every country, every edition

  5. How the keys combine

    Each country’s value on each key becomes its place in that key’s own field, as a share of the field. The shares are averaged, one vote per key, and only the order that produces is published.

    The method in full

04Every placed country

Gender & Equality on a map

Darker is placed higher. Hover a country for its position, or select it to open its page. Below the map, each continent’s median position — half its placed countries sit at or above it, so lower is better.

All regions
1st183rdNot placed · 41 countries with too few key statisticsNo data

  • 1st of 5 continents

    Europe

    26th

    median position, of 183 · 40 of its 49 countries placed

    HighestLatvia

  • 2nd of 5 continents

    Americas

    68th

    median position, of 183 · 31 of its 48 countries placed

    HighestCosta Rica

  • 3rd of 5 continents

    Oceania

    94th

    median position, of 183 · 9 of its 21 countries placed

    HighestNew Zealand

  • 4th of 5 continents

    Africa

    125th

    median position, of 183 · 54 of its 55 countries placed

    HighestCabo Verde

  • 5th of 5 continents

    Asia

    131st

    median position, of 183 · 49 of its 52 countries placed

    HighestTaiwan

All 21 sub-regions on Gender & Equality, best median first
  1. 1Australia and New Zealandmedian 9thfrom 2 of 2
  2. 2Northern Europemedian 17thfrom 10 of 13
  3. 3Western Europemedian 18thfrom 7 of 9
  4. 4Northern Americamedian 21stfrom 2 of 4
  5. 5Eastern Asiamedian 29thfrom 6 of 8
  6. 6Southern Europemedian 30thfrom 13 of 17
  7. 7Eastern Europemedian 39thfrom 10 of 10
  8. 8Polynesiamedian 56thfrom 2 of 7
  9. 9South Americamedian 59thfrom 12 of 12
  10. 10Southern Africamedian 66thfrom 5 of 5
  11. 11Caribbeanmedian 73rdfrom 9 of 24
  12. 12Central Americamedian 74thfrom 8 of 8
  13. 13South-eastern Asiamedian 95thfrom 11 of 11
  14. 14Melanesiamedian 105thfrom 4 of 5
  15. 15Eastern Africamedian 108thfrom 18 of 19
  16. 16Western Africamedian 120thfrom 16 of 16
  17. 17Central Asiamedian 131stfrom 5 of 5
  18. 18Middle Africamedian 140thfrom 9 of 9
  19. 19Southern Asiamedian 154thfrom 9 of 9
  20. 20Northern Africamedian 158thfrom 6 of 6
  21. 21Western Asiamedian 161stfrom 18 of 19

05The whole field

Where all 183 countries stand

In order, best first. A row resting on fewer keys rests on less evidence: a country needs 2 of the 4 to be placed at all. “=” marks a position shared with another country. Select a country to see the working behind its standing.

The full Country Index 2026

Showing 25 of 183 countries placed on Gender & Equality

  1. 1 of 183LatviaNorthern Europe4/4
  2. 2 of 183TaiwanEastern Asia3/4
  3. 3 of 183ItalySouthern Europe4/4
  4. 4 of 183SloveniaSouthern Europe4/4
  5. 5 of 183Costa RicaCentral America4/4
  6. 6 of 183LithuaniaNorthern Europe4/4
  7. 7 of 183BelgiumWestern Europe4/4
  8. 8 of 183CroatiaSouthern Europe4/4
  9. 9 of 183New ZealandAustralia and New Zealand4/4
  10. 10 of 183FranceWestern Europe4/4
  11. 11 of 183NorwayNorthern Europe4/4
  12. =12 of 183PolandEastern Europe4/4
  13. =12 of 183SpainSouthern Europe4/4
  14. 14 of 183AustriaWestern Europe4/4
  15. =15 of 183MoldovaEastern Europe4/4
  16. =15 of 183SwedenNorthern Europe4/4
  17. 17 of 183FinlandNorthern Europe4/4
  18. =18 of 183GermanyWestern Europe4/4
  19. =18 of 183SwitzerlandWestern Europe4/4
  20. 20 of 183EstoniaNorthern Europe4/4
  21. 21 of 183CanadaNorthern America4/4
  22. 22 of 183IrelandNorthern Europe4/4
  23. 23 of 183AustraliaAustralia and New Zealand4/4
  24. 24 of 183South KoreaEastern Asia4/4
  25. 25 of 183AlbaniaSouthern Europe4/4
41 countries measured in the index but not placed on gender & equality

Each holds readings on too few of this topic’s key statistics to be placed. Their profiles still show every reading the publishers give.

06Beyond the headline

A different story

The countries placed furthest above and below their overall position in the Country Index 2026. Both positions are compared as a share of their own field, because 50th of 193 and 50th of 174 are not the same showing.

Placed higher on Gender & Equality than overall

  1. Zimbabwe86th of 183Gender168th of 183Index 2026
  2. Lesotho=62nd of 183Gender139th of 183Index 2026
  3. Bolivia33rd of 183Gender110th of 183Index 2026
  4. Timor-Leste51st of 183Gender120th of 183Index 2026
  5. Rwanda60th of 183Gender127th of 183Index 2026

Placed lower on Gender & Equality than overall

  1. Qatar179th of 183Gender58th of 183Index 2026
  2. United Arab Emirates143rd of 183Gender39th of 183Index 2026
  3. Japan=116th of 183Gender15th of 183Index 2026
  4. Saudi Arabia167th of 183Gender=78th of 183Index 2026
  5. Kuwait178th of 183Gender=95th of 183Index 2026

07In records

Gender in records

One country at the extreme of a statistic under this topic, read from its newest edition. Where countries tie at the top, no record is named.

All statistics

08Latest editions

Who rose and fell in the published ranks

The biggest moves between each report’s two newest editions, in the publisher’s own ranks — reports under this topic that print a rank. A report whose field changed by more than 5% is left out.

Ranks as published by UNDP Human Development Report Office in the Gender Inequality Index: reference years 2022 (172 countries ranked) → 2023 (172 ranked), both from its 2025 report.

Improved most

rank before → after
  1. Benin166 → 153+13
  2. Sierra Leone162 → 152+10
  3. Tonga122 → 115+7

Declined most

rank before → after
  1. Kuwait41 → 51−10
  2. Cambodia126 → 136−10
  3. Tunisia53 → 62−9
Every country in the Gender Inequality Index

09Context, no vote

Also measured under gender & equality

29 more statistics on the same subject, published in full and deliberately given no vote — keeping them out is what stops the standing drifting toward whichever kind of statistic was imported most. Select a row for its leader and trend.

All statistics
  • Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 222 countries · 2023

    Most affected:Central African Republic

    UN DESA Population Division · 74 editions, data 1950–2023

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 196 countries · 2023

    Current leader:Canada

    UN DESA Population Division · 34 editions, data 1990–2023

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 195 countries · 2023

    Most affected:Nigeria

    UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG) · 24 editions, data 2000–2023

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 190 countries · 2025

    Current leader:Bulgaria

    World Bank Group · 55 editions, data 1970–2025

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 190 countries · 2025

    Current leader:Slovakia

    World Bank Group · 55 editions, data 1970–2025

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Gender Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 184 countries · 2023

    Current leader:Ukraine

    UNDP Human Development Report Office · 34 editions, data 1990–2023

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 182 countries · 2025

    Current leader:Madagascar

    International Labour Organization (ILO) · 36 editions, data 1990–2025

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Firms with Female Participation in OwnershipWorld Bank Group · 181 countries · 2026

    Current leader:Micronesia

    World Bank Group · 1 edition

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 172 countries · 2023

    Most affected:Yemen

    UNDP Human Development Report Office · 34 editions, data 1990–2023

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 171 countries · 2025

    UNICEF · 1 edition

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 153 countries · 2025

    UNICEF · 1 edition

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Child MarriageUNICEF · 145 countries · 2025

    Most affected:Niger

    UNICEF · 1 edition

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Account Ownership Among WomenWorld Bank Group · 139 countries · 2024

    Current leader:France

    World Bank Group · 5 editions, data 2011–2024

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Women Who Think a Husband Is Justified in Hitting or Beating His WifeUNICEF · 125 countries · 2025

    Most affected:Afghanistan

    UNICEF · 1 edition

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Global Gender Parity IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office and UN Women · 114 countries · 2022

    Current leader:Sweden

    UNDP Human Development Report Office and UN Women · 1 edition

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Women's Empowerment IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office and UN Women · 114 countries · 2022

    Current leader:Sweden

    UNDP Human Development Report Office and UN Women · 1 edition

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Legal Guarantees of Women's Equal Rights to LandFAO · 97 countries · 2025

    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 1 edition

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Gender Parity Index, Tertiary EnrolmentUIS · 95 countries · 2024

    Current leader:Gambia

    UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · 44 editions, data 1971–2024

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Gender Social Norms IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 91 countries · 2023

    Most affected:Tajikistan

    UNDP Human Development Report Office · 1 edition

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Female Share of Senior and Middle ManagementILO · 86 countries · 2024

    Current leader:Nauru

    International Labour Organization (ILO) · 10 editions, data 2014–2024

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Births Attended by Skilled Health StaffUNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance) · 84 countries · 2023

    UNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance) · 24 editions, data 2000–2023

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Female Genital Mutilation PrevalenceUNICEF · 31 countries · 2024

    Most affected:Somalia

    UNICEF · 1 edition

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

Describing the shape of a country (7)

These have no better end — more is not better or worse, only different — so they could not place countries even as keys.

10Keep reading

Explore further

All topics

How Gender & Equality relates to the other topics

Rank correlation of the two topics’ positions across the countries placed on both: 1 means the same order, 0 no link. Every pair of topics

The other topics

The full Country Index 2026

11Method

Questions, method and sources

Which country is placed first on gender & equality in the Country Index 2026?

Latvia, of the 183 countries given a standing on Gender & Equality. The standing is this site’s own, built from 4 key statistics by 12 publishers; it is not a rank any of those publishers printed.

Which country is placed last on gender & equality?

Yemen, 183rd of 183. A standing says how a country places against the others measured alongside it, so it moves when they move.

Which statistics decide the Gender & Equality standing?

Women, Business and the Law, Firms with a Female Top Manager, Women's Political Empowerment Index, Social Institutions and Gender Index. Each is read at one edition and turned into a place within its own field; the places are averaged with one vote each. The other 29 statistics on this topic are published as context and have no vote.

Why is a country not placed on gender & equality?

A country needs readings on at least 2 of the 4 key statistics before it is placed. 41 countries in the Country Index fall short on this topic; every reading the publishers do give for them is still on their profiles.

Are these the publishers’ own rankings?

The underlying numbers and any printed ranks are the publishers’, reproduced without adjustment on each statistic’s page. The standing that combines them is this site’s, and the average it is ordered by is never published — only the position it produces.

How the Gender & Equality standing is decided, step by step

A standing is a place in a list, not a mark out of anything. This one is part of the Country Index 2026, and it is worked out like this.

  1. A few key indicators decide it; the rest are context. 4 indicators on this topic are keys and 29 are charted alongside them without a vote. That split is the point: if every statistic voted, importing five more of one kind would quietly change what the topic is about.
  2. Each key is read at one edition. ⚠ The keys behind this standing do not all describe the same year — they run from 2023 to 2025, because publishers release on their own schedules. Read the standing as “how this country places now”, not as a snapshot of one year.
  3. Every country’s published value is turned into a place within that one key’s own field, and then expressed as a share of that field — how far down this key’s list the country sits, rather than how many countries are above it. Keys where a higher published number is worse (terrorism, hunger, disaster risk) are turned round first, so the good end is always the same end.
  4. Dividing by the field first is the whole reason this works. A place carries the size of its list inside it: 22nd of 44 and 108th of 215 are the same showing, and averaging the numbers 22 and 108 says loudly that they are not. Fields on this site run from about 44 countries to about 215, so averaging raw places would reward a country for happening to be measured in small ones. Dividing each place by its own field removes the size and leaves only the showing.
  5. The shares are averaged, plainly. One key, one vote — no key is weighted above another, because any weighting would be this site’s opinion presented as a measurement. Countries are then put in order by that average, and the average itself is never published. It is our arithmetic with nothing anchoring it, so printing it would invite it to be read as a measurement somebody made. The position it produces, the band, and the keys it was built from are all published instead — every one of them checkable against the tables on this page.
  6. A country needs 2 of this topic’s 4 keys — half, rounded up, and never fewer than 2. A standing built from one reading, printed beside one built from four, is two different things sharing a column heading. 183 countries clear the bar here.
  7. A key has to earn its vote every edition. It must measure at least 120 countries (below that it starts measuring who was surveyed rather than the world), it must not have more than 10% of its field tied at either end, and it must not repeat another key in the same topic — Spearman correlation above 0.92 counts as repeating. A topic needs at least 2 surviving keys to place anyone at all; this one has 4.
  8. A standing is relative, and the grouping is ours. It says where a country places against the others measured alongside it, so it moves when they move. The publishers listed on this page did not agree to be read together, and each measures its subject its own way: the underlying numbers are theirs, the ordering on top is this site’s — the same method as the rest of the Country Index, applied to one subject instead of all of them.

The key statistics and their licences

The other 29 statistics on this page come from 10 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

The countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.

Cite this page

Nations Inquiry (2026). Gender & Equality: country standings, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/topics/gender

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