In celebration of International Women’s Day, The Economist has released its annual glass-ceiling index, which ranks the best countries for working women among the 29 nations in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The rankings highlight how countries are performing in terms of gender equality in the workplace, based on 10 key metrics, including labor-force participation, gender wage gaps, and parental leave policies.
Why the U.S. Falls Short on the List
The United States ranked 19th in the index, significantly lagging behind other OECD countries. According to Lizzy Peet, a data researcher at The Economist, this ranking is not surprising. The U.S. consistently scores below the OECD average on the 10 measures considered, including gender wage gaps, women in managerial positions, and federally mandated parental leave policies.
One major factor contributing to the U.S.’s poor performance is the lack of federally mandated parental leave, which forces many women out of the workforce. This, in turn, widens the gender pay gap and reduces women’s representation in leadership roles.
“Not having mandated parental leave forces a lot of women out of the labor force,” says Peet. “It feeds into the reason why there’s still just a sizable gender pay gap and why women’s representation in board and management roles is a bit lower than it should be.”
The Nordic Countries Lead the Way
At the other end of the spectrum, Nordic countries—known for their progressive policies on gender equality—once again dominated the rankings. Sweden claimed the top spot this year, dethroning Iceland, which had held the No. 1 position for the past two years. Other Nordic nations, including Finland, Norway, and Denmark, also ranked in the top 10.
According to The Economist, these countries prioritize helping women secure jobs, climb the corporate ladder, and benefit from flexible work arrangements and robust parental leave policies. For instance, Sweden was the first country to introduce gender-neutral parental leave, and its policies have resulted in significant progress in workplace equality.
Sweden: The Best Place to Be a Working Woman in 2025
Sweden’s top ranking is attributed to its impressive performance on several key metrics:
- Gender Wage Gap: In 2024, Swedish women earned 7.3% less than men, well below the OECD average of 11.4%.
- Women in Managerial Positions: Nearly 43.7% of managerial roles are held by women, the highest percentage in the index.
- Women in Government: Women occupy 46.7% of government seats in Sweden, compared to the U.S.’s 28.7%, which is below the OECD average.
Additionally, Sweden boasts some of the best parental leave policies globally, allowing both mothers and fathers to take significant time off work to care for their children. These policies not only support work-life balance but also encourage more equitable participation in the workforce.
“The fact that [almost] 44% of managerial roles in companies are held by women links the reason why the gender gap is smaller,” Peet explains. “Countries with fewer women in management…tend to have wider wage gaps.”
Sweden’s commitment to gender equality extends beyond the workplace. It has consistently ranked among the top 10 countries in the World Economic Forum’s reports on overall gender equality since 2006.
Iceland: A Close Second
Although Iceland fell from the top spot to No. 2 this year, it remains one of the most gender-equal countries in the world. Iceland’s slight drop in the rankings was due to a decrease in the percentage of women in managerial positions, which fell from 39.6% to 36.8%.
Despite this dip, Iceland continues to excel in other areas, including its low overall gender gap and strong representation of women in government. Iceland was also the first country to elect a female president and remains a global leader in feminist policies.
The Top 10 Best Countries for Working Women in 2025
Here are the countries that made the top 10 in The Economist’s glass-ceiling index:
- Sweden
- Iceland
- Finland
- Norway
- Portugal
- New Zealand
- France
- Spain
- Denmark
- Australia
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