The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025 has once again placed Pakistan at the bottom of its rankings, 148th out of 148 countries — a disheartening position that reflects deep-seated structural and societal inequalities.
With a gender parity score of just 56.7%, Pakistan has not only fallen behind its global peers but also regressed from its own previous score of 57.7% in 2023. The report exposes chronic disparities across economic participation, education, health, and political representation — highlighting the urgent need for sustained, transformative reforms. Pakistan has been ranked last among 148 countries in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Gender Gap Report 2025, achieving a gender parity score of just 56.7% — its highest since the index began in 2006, yet still placing it at the bottom.
The WEF’s annual report measures gender parity across four key dimensions: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. According to the 2025 findings, Pakistan trails behind countries such as Sudan (57%, 147th), Chad (57.1%, 146th), Iran (58.3%, 145th), Guinea (59.5%, 144th), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (60.1%, 143rd), Niger (61.3%, 142nd), Algeria (61.4%, 141st), and Mali (61.7%, 140th). The report noted a slight decline in Pakistan’s overall parity score from 57% in the 2024 edition to 56.7% this year. Since 2006, Pakistan has closed just 2.3% of its gender gap. The current score also marks the second consecutive annual drop since reaching its peak of 57.7% in 2023.
The largest setback was observed in the economic participation and opportunity category, which saw a 1.3 percentage point decline. While economic representation indicators remained largely unchanged, the income gap slightly widened (by 0.02 points), and perceived wage inequality increased by 4 percentage points.
On a more positive note, the only sub-index showing improvement was educational attainment, where parity increased by 1.5 percentage points to reach 85.1%. This progress was largely attributed to a rise in female literacy rates—from 46.5% to 48.5%. However, the gain was also influenced by a decrease in male enrolment in tertiary education, which improved gender balance but also indicated a drop in overall educational access.
In terms of political empowerment, Pakistan experienced a notable decline. The sub-index score fell from 12.2% in 2024 to 11% in 2025. While female representation in parliament improved by 1.2 percentage points, women’s presence in ministerial roles dropped sharply—from 5.9% in 2024 to zero in 2025. Pakistan now ranks among countries such as Azerbaijan, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, and Vanuatu, which currently have all-male ministerial cabinets.
Commenting on the findings, Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, said the 2025 report comes at a critical time marked by technological disruption, geopolitical tensions, and economic uncertainty. “Amid such change, gender parity is both a principle and a strategy. Economies that harness the full potential of their human capital are better equipped to thrive in times of transformation,” she stated. Zahidi also noted that many countries are still not making full use of this opportunity for inclusive growth.
Globally, the report found that the average gender gap across the four categories remains above 30%. The global gender parity score in 2025 stood at 68.8%, reflecting a modest improvement of 0.3 percentage points from 68.4% in 2024. Based on the current rate of progress across the 100 monitored economies, the report estimates it will take 123 years to achieve full global gender parity.
The economic landscape in Pakistan remains deeply skewed. Only 36% of women participate in the economy, with just 23% represented in the formal workforce. In agriculture, where women play a critical yet invisible role, their labor often goes unrecorded and unrecognized by national data — including WEF metrics.
Women continue to face a significant wage gap, earning 18% less than men for similar work. The situation is worse in unpaid labor: 76% of women in agriculture work without pay, compared to 24% of men. Income disparity increased by 0.2 percentage points in the past year, while perceived wage inequality rose by 4 points, reflecting growing discontent.
Managerial roles remain largely inaccessible to women. Discriminatory practices in recruitment, postings, and promotions further entrench gender-based exclusion from economic leadership. The only area showing relative improvement was educational attainment, where parity rose by 1.5 percentage points to 85.1%. This increase is partly due to higher female literacy rates, which climbed from 46.5% to 48.5%. However, the gain in parity also reflects a drop in male enrolment in tertiary education, indicating a narrowing gap due not to collective progress, but to overall educational decline.
Pakistan has made modest gains in closing the gender gap in healthcare, but serious concerns remain. Maternal mortality rates remain among the highest globally, and access to reproductive health services is alarmingly limited. Cultural norms often undervalue women’s health needs, which exacerbates the problem and delays effective healthcare interventions.
While Pakistan reserves 33% of parliamentary seats for women, most of these seats are occupied through political selection rather than public election. Women are often placed in these roles because of familial or political ties, leaving little room for independent or grassroots voices. This symbolic representation rarely translates into meaningful policy influence, and crucial gender issues remain sidelined in legislative agendas.
Pakistan’s persistent position at the bottom of the Global Gender Gap Index is more than a statistic — it is a mirror reflecting widespread exclusion, entrenched patriarchy, and policy inaction. While there are signs of progress in certain areas, such as education, these gains are fragile and overshadowed by deeper systemic failures. Achieving gender equality in Pakistan will require more than symbolic gestures — it demands robust law enforcement, cultural change, and inclusive policy-making that centers women’s voices and contributions. Only then can the country unlock its full potential and build a more equitable and prosperous future for all.