Glass-Ceiling Index 2025: Best Countries for Working Women

International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated annually on March 8, serves as a global platform to recognize the achievements of women in cultural, political, and socio-economic spheres. It is also a moment to assess progress in gender equality and the challenges that remain in workplaces worldwide. The Glass-Ceiling Index (GCI), compiled by The Economist, provides a comparative analysis of the best and worst countries for working women.

The 2025 Glass-Ceiling Index reveals that while significant improvements have been made globally, disparities still persist. This year, Sweden has reclaimed its position as the best country for working women, surpassing Iceland, which held the top spot for the past two years. Meanwhile, countries like Japan, Turkey, and South Korea continue to struggle due to entrenched societal norms and wage gaps.

Global Trends in Women’s Workforce Representation

Political Landscape: A Historic Year for Elections

The year 2024 was remarkable for women’s participation in politics. According to the OECD, the average women’s parliamentary representation rose to 34%, a testament to global efforts toward gender inclusivity.

• Japan saw a substantial increase in representation, jumping from 10% to 16%.
• Britain experienced notable growth, with representation rising from 35% to 41%.
• The United States, however, witnessed a slight decline, with female parliamentary representation falling to 28.7%.

This data highlights the evolving role of women in governance, though many nations still lag behind in achieving gender parity in politics.

Economic Indicators: Progress and Challenges

On the economic front, the percentage of women on corporate boards reached 33%, reflecting a growing acceptance of gender diversity in leadership roles. Additionally, the labour-force participation rate for women increased to 66.6%, up from 65.8% in the previous year. However, this figure remains significantly lower compared to the 81% male participation rate.

Despite these advancements, women continue to face obstacles such as wage disparities, unequal career advancement opportunities, and underrepresentation in top managerial positions.

Top 10 Best Countries for Working Women in 2025

According to The Economist’s 2025 Glass-Ceiling Index, the following countries ranked highest in fostering gender equality, workplace inclusion, and career growth for women:

Key Highlights

• France secured the top spot, owing to progressive workplace policies, strong parental leave regulations, and increased boardroom representation.
• Spain and Australia followed closely, demonstrating significant strides in equal pay and leadership opportunities.
• New Zealand emerged as the most improved country, climbing eight places to enter the top five.
• The Nordic nations, including Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark, maintained high rankings due to their commitment to work-life balance and gender equality laws.

Significant Shifts in the 2025 Rankings

Sweden Reclaims the Top Spot

Sweden overtook Iceland to become the best country for working women in 2025. This shift is attributed to:

• Comprehensive parental leave policies that ensure work-life balance.
• Gender-equitable corporate structures, with high female representation in leadership.
• Strong legal protections against workplace discrimination.

South Korea Shows Improvement

For the first time in 11 years, South Korea made a positive leap in the rankings, moving up to 28th place. The country implemented new policies aimed at reducing the wage gap and increasing women’s workforce participation.

However, challenges persist, including deep-rooted societal expectations and limited female leadership opportunities.

Countries at the Bottom

At the lower end of the index, Japan, Turkey, and South Korea remain challenged by gender inequality in the workplace. These countries struggle with:

• Low numbers of women in management (below 17%).
• Limited female parliamentary representation (less than 20%).
• Underrepresentation on corporate boards (below 21%).

Turkey now ranks as the worst country for working women due to systemic gender bias and insufficient workplace protections.