Islamabad: Pakistan has been listed as the worst-performing country in gender parity by being ranked 148 out of 148 countries in the Global Gender Gap Report 2025, published by the World Economic Forum.
The general gender gap score of the country also decreased by a small margin to 56.7% (as compared to 57 in 2024). One positive change was however registered; the educational attainment parity improved to 85.1 percent, courtesy of a slight improvement in the female literacy levels which grew to 48.5 percent.
Nevertheless, Pakistan has done worse in the economic participation and opportunity, as it deteriorated by 1.3 percentage points. The political empowerment index declined significantly with no women in the ministerial positions- compared to two the previous year.
Health and survival continues to be the best area of the country with almost equality. Nevertheless, analysts emphasize that significant improvements will be impossible without grand structural changes regarding female access to the working market, political representation, and economic participation.
The report indicates that although education is a ray of hope, Pakistan needs to act fast to reduce its widening inequalities to be at par with regional peers and international standards.
