In recognition of International Women’s Day, The Economist has unveiled its annual glass-ceiling index for 2025, evaluating women’s working conditions across 29 nations in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This comprehensive analysis encompasses various metrics designed to measure gender equality in the workplace.
Key Metrics for Ranking
The ranking was determined using ten critical factors, including:
- Higher education rates
- GMAT participation among women
- Labor force participation
- Gender wage gap
- Women in management
- Female representation on company boards
- Women in government roles
- Net childcare costs
- Paid maternity leave
- Paid paternity leave
Unfortunately for the United States, it secured the 19th spot, unable to breach the top 10. This outcome does not come as a shock; according to Tim Donovan, a data researcher from The Economist, the U.S. often lags behind the OECD average across the evaluated parameters. “Given the nation’s wealth and significance, the ranking clearly exemplifies room for improvement,” Donovan stated.
Reasons Behind the U.S. Ranking
One major factor contributing to the U.S.’s low rank is the absence of federally mandated parental leave, a unique aspect among OECD countries. This lack impacts labor force participation, particularly among women, which in turn exacerbates the gender pay gap and affects representation within executive and management positions.
In contrast, several Nordic nations have excelled in the glass-ceiling index, with Sweden and Iceland leading the rankings as the top places for working women.
Sweden Tops the Glass-Ceiling Index
Sweden claimed the top position, usurping Iceland’s two-year reign. In 2024, women in Sweden earned 7.3% less than their male counterparts—still better than the OECD average of 11.4%. The employment rate for working-age women stands at an impressive 66.6%, compared to 81% for men, although more than 82% of working-age women are part of the workforce.
Women occupy 43.7% of managerial roles, the highest percentage in the index, along with 37.7% of board seats. Government representation is also notable, with women holding 46.7% of these positions—well above the U.S. average at just 28.7%.
Donovan emphasizes that Sweden’s smaller wage gap among women can be linked to its high percentage of women in senior roles, where salaries tend to be more competitive. “Countries that promote women into leadership roles typically see narrower wage gaps,” he adds.
Sweden has a rich history of championing gender equality, consistently ranking among the top countries for gender parity in education, health, and economics since the inception of such evaluations.
The Top 10 Countries for Working Women in 2025
- Sweden
- Iceland
- Finland
- Norway
- Portugal
- New Zealand
- France
- Spain
- Denmark
- Australia
While Iceland fell to the second spot, it still maintains an exemplary standing in many measures, particularly in gender equality, having been the first country to elect a female president.
The shifts in rankings highlight the competition among countries to improve working conditions for women, with both Sweden and Iceland setting benchmarks for others.
