Pakistan has been placed at the very bottom—148th out of 148 countries—in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025, with an overall score of just 56.7% in gender parity. This marks the country’s lowest rank since the report was first published in 2006.
The annual report measures gender-based gaps across four main areas: economic participation, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. Pakistan saw particular declines in political representation and economic inclusion. For the first time, the country reported no women holding ministerial positions. Additionally, the income and wage gaps between men and women have widened further.
Read More: Another International Airline Begins Operations in Peshawar
In education, however, a small improvement was noted. The gender parity score for education rose to 85.1%, supported by a slight rise in female literacy—from 46.5% to 48.5%. This shift was also influenced by a drop in male enrollment in tertiary education, bringing a relative balance, though not reflecting an overall expansion in access.
Globally, the average gender gap stands at 68.8%, with Iceland topping the list for the 16th consecutive year at 92.6%. However, the report estimates it could take 123 years to close the global gender gap entirely.
The findings point to a critical need for Pakistan to strengthen policies aimed at improving women’s participation in politics, education, and the workforce.