Women, Peace and Security Index 2025/26: Top 10 Best and Worst Countries

The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Index 2025/26 has painted a sobering picture of women’s wellbeing across the globe. While some nations continue to excel, a majority are witnessing stagnation or reversal of gains achieved over three decades. For government exam aspirants and concerned readers, this latest index offers critical insight into global gender realities.

What is the Women, Peace and Security Index?

The WPS Index, developed by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security and the Peace Research Institute Oslo, evaluates 181 countries on the status of women across three dimensions:

• Inclusion – economic participation and education
• Justice – legal protection and equality
• Security – safety at home and in society

Scores range between 0 and 1, where 1 represents the highest level of gender wellbeing.

Why This Year’s Report Matters

According to the 2025/26 edition:

• 676 million women faced conflict exposure in the past year— a shocking 74% rise since 2010.
• Global progress has stagnated or declined.
• Even high-income nations show slow or uneven advancement.

Interestingly, some conflict-affected countries show improvement, hinting at resilience and policy reform despite crisis.

Top 10 Best Performing Countries for Women (2025/26)

Once again, Nordic nations dominate the ranking, with Denmark taking the top spot for the third consecutive time.

What Makes These Countries Perform Well?

These nations stand out for:

• High women’s representation in decision-making
• Strong legal protections
• Safe public environments
• High health and education outcomes

Notably, Denmark scores over three times higher than Afghanistan, the lowest-ranked country.

Top 10 Worst Countries for Women (2025/26)

Countries deeply affected by conflict, instability, or weakened governance continue to rank the lowest.

Key Insight

Nine of these ten countries are conflict-affected or fragile states, highlighting how instability reinforces gender inequality.

Where Does India Stand?

India is ranked 131st with a score of 0.607.

What Does This Mean?

• India shows steady progress, but improvement remains uneven.
• Challenges persist in women’s safety, political leadership, labour force participation, and legal outcomes.

For competitive exams, remember: India Rank 2025/26 WPS Index: 131 / Score 0.607

How Did the United States Perform?

The US climbed six positions, moving from 37th in 2023 to 31st in 2025.

Reason for Improvement

• First recorded decline in maternal mortality in 20 years (based on data through 2024).

Though significantly better than earlier, the US still lags behind several European peers.

Regional Trends Worth Noting

1. Progress in East Asia and Pacific

Countries here show continued improvement, reflecting stronger investment in women’s education and public safety.

2. Stagnation in High-Income Nations

Even developed nations with high rankings show slow or plateauing progress, raising concern over complacency.

3. Conflict Regions Showing Unexpected Gains

Some fragile states have made noticeable strides, proving that reform and change are possible even amid instability.

Why This Index Matters for India and the World

The WPS Index reveals:

• Global gender equity is not guaranteed, even in wealthy nations.
• Conflict disproportionately affects women’s safety, health, and rights.
• Policymakers must prioritize women-centric governance, especially in fragile regions.