Global progress toward gender parity has reached its highest level since the World Economic Forum began measuring it, but the gains remain vulnerable, according to the WEF’s Global Gender Gap Report 2026. The report puts worldwide parity at 69.2% and estimates that closing the remaining gap could take 120 years at the current pace.
The WEF assessed gender differences in workforce participation, education, health and politics across 145 economies. It said women now hold senior government and business positions at levels that were uncommon when the index began in 2006, but warned that progress is not assured. WEF Managing Director Saadia Zahidi said parity was “not inevitable” and called for governments and employers to apply effective policies more quickly.
Political representation has become a particular concern. The share of countries led by women peaked in 2022 before falling back to 2016 levels. Although women held 26% more ministerial positions than in 2008, the report said only one in 10 of those roles was considered highly influential—virtually unchanged from that year. Women also hold fewer than one-fifth of chief executive positions, according to the WEF.
The report identified a further gap in the expanding artificial-intelligence sector. Despite nearly $1 trillion invested worldwide in AI development, fewer than one in five AI engineers are women, and women remain underrepresented throughout AI companies.
Iceland led the rankings for the 17th consecutive year, with 93% of its gender gap closed, followed by Finland and Norway. Namibia ranked fourth globally and led sub-Saharan Africa at 84.5%; it was joined in the top 10 by Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany and Australia. Kenya, Ghana and Angola were among the biggest annual climbers, while Chad had the lowest score at 57.8%.
The United States fell five places to 47th, with 74.9% parity closed. India ranked 131st at 64.5%, with gains driven mainly by education, while women’s labor-force participation showed little change. China rose seven places to 96th, but the WEF said its political parity had barely advanced over two decades.