In the Global Gender Gap Index 2025 released by the World Economic Forum, India ranked 131st out of 148 countries, reflecting a concerning dip despite marginal progress in certain areas.

With an overall gender parity score of 64.4%, India continues to lag behind in political empowerment and economic participation, while making gains in education and health.

Key Points:

• India scored 64.4% in the 2025 Global Gender Gap Index, slipping two ranks from its 2024 position despite a slight overall score improvement.
• The country showed a minor increase in economic parity, with a rise in earned income estimates and labour-force participation reaching 45.9%.
• Educational attainment remained high at 97.1%, reflecting near-equal access to education across genders.
• Political empowerment significantly declined, with women's representation in Parliament dropping to 13.8% and ministerial roles falling to 5.6%.
• Among South Asian nations, India ranked lower than Bangladesh (24), Nepal (125), and Bhutan (119), while only ahead of Maldives (138) and Pakistan (148).