Pakistan remains among bottom three on gender gap index, ranks 143rd globally

The World Economic Forum placed Pakistan 143rd among 145 economies in its Global Gender Gap Index 2026, according to Profit by Pakistan Today. The country stayed near the bottom even though it recorded its largest yearly gain in a decade. Its overall parity score reached 59.5 per cent, up 2.8 percentage points from 56.7 per cent a year earlier.

Education drove most of the gain, with the Educational Attainment score rising by more than six points to a record 91.7 per cent. The report said enrolment at primary, secondary and tertiary levels accounted for much of the progress since 2006. Pakistan also ranked first globally for female enrolment in tertiary education, yet gains have not yet carried into the labour market.

Economic Participation and Opportunity stayed the weakest subindex, scoring 36.4 per cent and ranking 144th globally. Pakistan was last in South Asia, while Bangladesh led the region at 79th globally. Labour-force participation parity stood at only 34.6 per cent, according to the report.