These 5 countries are winning the gender parity race
Here’s how they’re doing it—and what your company can steal.
The World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Gender Gap Report is out. Since 2006, it’s been the world’s benchmark for measuring gender parity across 146 countries.
Here’s what the top 5 are doing right—and what every C-Suite leader should consider 👇
1️⃣ Iceland (92.6% Closed)
Political Parity Powerhouse: 95.4% of the political empowerment gap closed. Full ministerial parity since 2024.
Parental Leave & Childcare: Gender-neutral leave and subsidised childcare support strong female workforce participation.
🔹 Why it works: Core policy embeds equality into everyday life and leadership.
2️⃣ Finland (87.9% Closed)
Economic Parity on the Rise: Women’s share of senior roles rose from 38.9% (2006) to 62.4% (2025).
Wage Transparency: Mandatory pay audits and enforcement drive fairer outcomes.
🔹 Why it works: Public accountability closes gaps faster.
3️⃣ Norway (86.3% Closed)
Boardroom Quotas Since 2003: 40% women on corporate boards.
Strong Family Policies: Public childcare + flexible work keeps women in leadership pipelines.
🔹 Why it works: Legal levers + culture change = lasting impact.
4️⃣ United Kingdom (83.8% Closed)
All-Gender Cabinet: Jumped political parity by nearly 17% in one year.
Executive Representation Surge: Senior role parity rose from 58.3% to 67.3% in 12 months.
🔹 Why it works: Bold leadership shifts norms and unlocks momentum.
5️⃣ New Zealand (82.7% Closed)
Family-First Social Policies: Subsidised childcare and paid parental leave.
Pay Transparency Laws: Mandated disclosure keeps gaps visible—and actionable.
🔹 Why it works: Transparency drives internal change and accountability.
And, if you are wondering, Australia did pretty well and ranked 13th place globally and 2nd place in the Eastern Asia and the Pacific region (just behind NZ's 1st place).
What Leaders Can Do Now:
Blend mandates (targets, reporting) with leadership sponsorship
Embed transparency across pay, promotion, and board appointments.
Invest in family-friendly structures—childcare, leave, flexible pathways.
Which action will your company pilot this year?
Want strategic guidance? My whitepaper on Closing the Gender Pay Gap includes tools, case studies, and a C-suite checklist. Message me for a copy.
A former Board Member, CPO, and 2022 HR Leader of the Year, Anoop creates the space for C-suite leaders to turn complexity into clarity and strategy into action.