Published by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, the 2025\/26 WPS Index ranks 181 countries using 13 indicators spanning women\u2019s inclusion, justice, and security. The results form the basis for this 2026 ranking.<\/p>\n
The World\u2019s Best and Worst Countries for Women<\/p>\n
The following table ranks countries based on the Women, Peace and Security Index.<\/p>\n
\tRankCountryWPS Index Score<\/p>\n
\t1\ud83c\udde9\ud83c\uddf0 Denmark0.939<\/p>\n
\t2\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf8 Iceland0.932<\/p>\n
\t3\ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddf4 Norway0.924<\/p>\n
\t3\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddea Sweden0.924<\/p>\n
\t5\ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddee Finland0.921<\/p>\n
\t6\ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\uddfa Luxembourg0.918<\/p>\n
\t7\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddea Belgium0.912<\/p>\n
\t8\ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddf1 Netherlands0.905<\/p>\n
\t9\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddf9 Austria0.898<\/p>\n
\t9\ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddff New Zealand0.898<\/p>\n
\t11\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa Australia0.896<\/p>\n
\t11\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddea Estonia0.896<\/p>\n
\t13\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea Ireland0.891<\/p>\n
\t14\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddee Slovenia0.889<\/p>\n
\t15\ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\uddf9 Lithuania0.887<\/p>\n
\t16\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 Canada0.885<\/p>\n
\t17\ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\uddfb Latvia0.884<\/p>\n
\t17\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddec Singapore0.884<\/p>\n
\t19\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udded Switzerland0.877<\/p>\n
\t20\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddea United Arab Emirates0.872<\/p>\n
\t21\ud83c\udde9\ud83c\uddea Germany0.869<\/p>\n
\t22\ud83c\uddef\ud83c\uddf5 Japan0.866<\/p>\n
\t23\ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7 France0.864<\/p>\n
\t23\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 United Kingdom0.864<\/p>\n
\t25\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf8 Spain0.862<\/p>\n
\t26\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf9 Portugal0.861<\/p>\n
\t27\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf1 Poland0.854<\/p>\n
\t27\ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddfc Taiwan0.854<\/p>\n
\t29\ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\uddf8 Serbia0.844<\/p>\n
\t30\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddf9 Malta0.841<\/p>\n
\t31\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 United States0.840<\/p>\n
\t32\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddff Czechia0.832<\/p>\n
\t32\ud83c\udded\ud83c\uddfa Hungary0.832<\/p>\n
\t34\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddf7 Costa Rica0.824<\/p>\n
\t35\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddfe Uruguay0.822<\/p>\n
\t36\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\udde9 Moldova0.821<\/p>\n
\t37\ud83c\uddf0\ud83c\uddf7 South Korea0.815<\/p>\n
\t38\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddec Bulgaria0.814<\/p>\n
\t39\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf9 Italy0.811<\/p>\n
\t40\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udde8 Seychelles0.810<\/p>\n
\t41\ud83c\udded\ud83c\uddf0 Hong Kong0.809<\/p>\n
\t42\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\udde7 Barbados0.807<\/p>\n
\t43\ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\uddf4 Romania0.801<\/p>\n
\t44\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddf3 Mongolia0.799<\/p>\n
\t45\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\uddea Georgia0.798<\/p>\n
\t46\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddf0 Slovakia0.797<\/p>\n
\t47\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddf7 Argentina0.791<\/p>\n
\t48\ud83c\udded\ud83c\uddf7 Croatia0.788<\/p>\n
\t49\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde9 Grenada0.787<\/p>\n
\t49\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddf0 North Macedonia0.787<\/p>\n
\t51\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddf7 Suriname0.779<\/p>\n
\t52\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddfe Cyprus0.770<\/p>\n
\t52\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\uddfe Guyana0.770<\/p>\n
\t54\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddfe Paraguay0.768<\/p>\n
\t55\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\udded Bahrain0.765<\/p>\n
\t56\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddf2 Armenia0.762<\/p>\n
\t57\ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\udded Thailand0.761<\/p>\n
\t58\ud83c\uddf4\ud83c\uddf2 Oman0.755<\/p>\n
\t59\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\udde6 Bosnia and Herzegovina0.753<\/p>\n
\t60\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\uddf7 Greece0.752<\/p>\n
\t61\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddea Montenegro0.743<\/p>\n
\t62\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddfb Cabo Verde0.741<\/p>\n
\t63\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddfe Belarus0.739<\/p>\n
\t63\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddf1 Chile0.739<\/p>\n
\t63\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddfc Palau0.739<\/p>\n
\t63\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udde6 Saudi Arabia0.739<\/p>\n
\t67\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddfe Malaysia0.738<\/p>\n
\t68\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddf1 Albania0.731<\/p>\n
\t68\ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddef Fiji0.731<\/p>\n
\t70\ud83c\uddf0\ud83c\uddfc Kuwait0.723<\/p>\n
\t70\ud83c\uddf6\ud83c\udde6 Qatar0.723<\/p>\n
\t72\ud83c\uddf0\ud83c\uddff Kazakhstan0.722<\/p>\n
\t73\ud83c\uddfb\ud83c\uddf3 Viet Nam0.721<\/p>\n
\t74\ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddf2 Turkmenistan0.720<\/p>\n
\t75\ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\uddfa Russian Federation0.718<\/p>\n
\t76\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf7 Puerto Rico0.707<\/p>\n
\t77\ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\uddf0 Sri Lanka0.706<\/p>\n
\t78\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddfb Maldives0.704<\/p>\n
\t79\ud83c\uddef\ud83c\uddf2 Jamaica0.703<\/p>\n
\t80\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddf4 Bolivia0.701<\/p>\n
\t80\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddea Peru0.701<\/p>\n
\t82\ud83c\uddfd\ud83c\uddf0 Kosovo0.700<\/p>\n
\t83\ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\udde6 Lao PDR0.698<\/p>\n
\t84\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf1 Israel0.697<\/p>\n
\t84\ud83c\uddf0\ud83c\uddec Kyrgyzstan0.697<\/p>\n
\t86\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\udde6 Panama0.696<\/p>\n
\t87\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfb El Salvador0.691<\/p>\n
\t88\ud83c\uddef\ud83c\uddf4 Jordan0.686<\/p>\n
\t89\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddf3 China0.685<\/p>\n
\t89\ud83c\uddfc\ud83c\uddf8 Samoa0.685<\/p>\n
\t89\ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddef Tajikistan0.685<\/p>\n
\t89\ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddf4 Tonga0.685<\/p>\n
\t89\ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddf9 Trinidad and Tobago0.685<\/p>\n
\t94\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde6 Gabon0.679<\/p>\n
\t94\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddfa Mauritius0.679<\/p>\n
\t96\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\udde9 Indonesia0.678<\/p>\n
\t97\ud83c\udde9\ud83c\uddf4 Dominican Republic0.675<\/p>\n
\t98\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddff Uzbekistan0.674<\/p>\n
\t99\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddf9 Bhutan0.673<\/p>\n
\t100\ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddf3 Tunisia0.671<\/p>\n
\t101\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\udded Marshall Islands0.670<\/p>\n
\t102\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\udde6 Morocco0.668<\/p>\n
\t102\ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddf1 Timor-Leste0.668<\/p>\n
\t104\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddff Belize0.667<\/p>\n
\t104\ud83c\uddf0\ud83c\udded Cambodia0.667<\/p>\n
\t106\ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddf7 T\u00fcrkiye0.664<\/p>\n
\t107\ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddee Nicaragua0.659<\/p>\n
\t108\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddfc Botswana0.658<\/p>\n
\t108\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udde7 Solomon Islands0.658<\/p>\n
\t110\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddf3 Senegal0.657<\/p>\n
\t111\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddff Azerbaijan0.653<\/p>\n
\t112\ud83c\uddf0\ud83c\uddee Kiribati0.652<\/p>\n
\t113\ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf2 Federated States of Micronesia0.648<\/p>\n
\t113\ud83c\uddff\ud83c\udde6 South Africa0.648<\/p>\n
\t115\ud83c\uddfb\ud83c\uddfa Vanuatu0.646<\/p>\n
\t116\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 Ukraine0.645<\/p>\n
\t117\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udded Ghana0.639<\/p>\n
\t118\ud83c\uddfb\ud83c\uddea Venezuela0.638<\/p>\n
\t119\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddf7 Brazil0.632<\/p>\n
\t120\ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddf5 Nepal0.631<\/p>\n
\t121\ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\uddfc Rwanda0.624<\/p>\n
\t121\ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddff Tanzania0.624<\/p>\n
\t123\ud83c\udde9\ud83c\uddff Algeria0.621<\/p>\n
\t124\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddf9 S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe0.620<\/p>\n
\t125\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddec Egypt0.617<\/p>\n
\t126\ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\uddf8 Lesotho0.614<\/p>\n
\t127\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\udde8 Ecuador0.612<\/p>\n
\t128\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf7 Iran0.608<\/p>\n
\t128\ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\uddfe Libya0.608<\/p>\n
\t128\ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\udde6 Namibia0.608<\/p>\n
\t131\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf3 India0.607<\/p>\n
\t131\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\udded Philippines0.607<\/p>\n
\t133\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddf4 Angola0.601<\/p>\n
\t133\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddf1 Sierra Leone0.601<\/p>\n
\t135\ud83c\uddf0\ud83c\uddf2 Comoros0.590<\/p>\n
\t135\ud83c\uddff\ud83c\uddfc Zimbabwe0.590<\/p>\n
\t137\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddee C\u00f4te d’Ivoire0.589<\/p>\n
\t138\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddef Benin0.587<\/p>\n
\t138\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddec Uganda0.587<\/p>\n
\t140\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddec Congo0.583<\/p>\n
\t141\ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\udde7 Lebanon0.575<\/p>\n
\t142\ud83c\uddff\ud83c\uddf2 Zambia0.566<\/p>\n
\t143\ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddec Togo0.562<\/p>\n
\t144\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\uddf9 Guatemala0.561<\/p>\n
\t144\ud83c\udded\ud83c\uddf3 Honduras0.561<\/p>\n
\t146\ud83c\udde9\ud83c\uddef Djibouti0.560<\/p>\n
\t147\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddfd Mexico0.558<\/p>\n
\t148\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddff Eswatini0.556<\/p>\n
\t149\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddf4 Colombia0.551<\/p>\n
\t150\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddfc Malawi0.549<\/p>\n
\t151\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddff Mozambique0.548<\/p>\n
\t152\ud83c\uddf0\ud83c\uddea Kenya0.542<\/p>\n
\t153\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\uddf2 Gambia0.528<\/p>\n
\t154\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\uddf3 Guinea0.527<\/p>\n
\t155\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\udde9 Bangladesh0.526<\/p>\n
\t156\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9 Ethiopia0.516<\/p>\n
\t157\ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\uddf7 Liberia0.512<\/p>\n
\t158\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf6 Iraq0.510<\/p>\n
\t159\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\uddfc Guinea-Bissau0.508<\/p>\n
\t160\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddeb Burkina Faso0.507<\/p>\n
\t160\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddec Papua New Guinea0.507<\/p>\n
\t162\ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddec Nigeria0.495<\/p>\n
\t163\ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddea Niger0.492<\/p>\n
\t164\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddf1 Mali0.478<\/p>\n
\t165\ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\udde9 Chad0.476<\/p>\n
\t166\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddf7 Mauritania0.475<\/p>\n
\t167\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8 Palestine0.469<\/p>\n
\t168\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddec Madagascar0.466<\/p>\n
\t169\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf0 Pakistan0.462<\/p>\n
\t170\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddf4 Somalia0.455<\/p>\n
\t171\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddf2 Cameroon0.451<\/p>\n
\t172\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddf2 Myanmar0.442<\/p>\n
\t173\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddf8 South Sudan0.411<\/p>\n
\t174\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddee Burundi0.407<\/p>\n
\t175\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde9 Democratic Republic of the Congo0.405<\/p>\n
\t176\ud83c\udded\ud83c\uddf9 Haiti0.399<\/p>\n
\t177\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udde9 Sudan0.397<\/p>\n
\t178\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfe Syrian Arab Republic0.364<\/p>\n
\t179\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddeb Central African Republic0.362<\/p>\n
\t180\ud83c\uddfe\ud83c\uddea Yemen0.323<\/p>\n
\t181\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddeb Afghanistan0.279<\/p>\n
The rankings reveal a sharp geographic divide. Northern Europe continues to set the global benchmark for women\u2019s wellbeing, while countries affected by conflict<\/a> and political instability cluster at the bottom.<\/p>\n Denmark ranks first with a score of 0.939, followed by Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, and New Zealand round out the global top 10. Afghanistan ranks last, with a score less than one-third of Denmark\u2019s.<\/p>\n Why Nordic Countries Continue to Lead<\/p>\n Nordic countries occupy all five of the top positions thanks to consistently strong performance across the index\u2019s three dimensions: inclusion, justice, and security.<\/p>\n Women in these countries generally benefit from high levels of education, workforce participation, legal protection, financial inclusion, and political representation, alongside relatively low rates of violence. Strong public institutions and broad social safety nets also help support gender equality throughout life.<\/p>\n While no country scores a perfect 1.0, the Nordic region remains the global benchmark for women\u2019s wellbeing.<\/p>\n Outside Northern Europe, Australia and New Zealand continue to perform strongly. Costa Rica and Uruguay also enter the top global quintile for the first time, reflecting sustained gains in women\u2019s rights and wellbeing and making them notable standouts in Latin America.<\/p>\n Conflict Remains the Biggest Divider<\/p>\n At the opposite end of the rankings are Afghanistan, Yemen, the Central African Republic, Syria, Sudan, Haiti, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, South Sudan, and Myanmar. Many of these countries have experienced years of armed conflict, political instability, or humanitarian crises that disproportionately<\/a> affect women.<\/p>\n More than 70% of women living in the 12 lowest-ranked countries reside within 50 kilometers of armed conflict, exposing them to higher risks of displacement and gender-based violence. Countries with greater exposure to conflict also tend to score worse on access to justice and maternal health.<\/p>\n This aligns with broader research showing that violence against women rises during periods of instability, while fragile institutions often struggle to provide legal protections and support services. According to the World Health Organization<\/a>, violence against women remains one of the world\u2019s most widespread human rights violations.<\/p>\n Women\u2019s Wellbeing Reflects Broader Society<\/p>\n The WPS Index measures more than gender equality alone. By combining indicators across security, economic inclusion, healthcare, legal rights, and political participation, it provides a broader snapshot of how supportive countries are for women to live, work, and thrive.<\/p>\n Countries that rank highly typically combine economic opportunity, strong legal protections, accessible healthcare, and low levels of violence. Nations facing prolonged instability, by contrast, often struggle across several dimensions at once.<\/p>\n The rankings therefore offer a broader view of social resilience and institutional strength, not just women\u2019s outcomes in isolation.<\/p>\n Learn More on the Voronoi App ![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/voronoi-icon-transparent.png\"){kind=spacer}
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