Where Is Gender Inequality the Worst in 2025?

Egyptian woman sitting on the ground in a burka selling bread

Gender inequality remains one of the most urgent human rights issues of our time. Despite global efforts, many countries still enforce laws and cultural practices that severely limit the rights and freedoms of women, girls, and gender-diverse people.

According to recent reports from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report, some countries consistently rank among the worst for gender equality. In these nations, systemic oppression, legal barriers, and violence make everyday life deeply unsafe and unequal for millions.

Here are 15 of the countries with the most extreme gender inequality in 2025:

1. Afghanistan

Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, conditions for women and girls have deteriorated dramatically:

Girls are banned from schooling beyond age 12.
Women can’t work in most sectors or travel without a male guardian.
Human rights violations are widespread and state-sanctioned.
UN Source: UN Women on Afghanistan

2. Iran

In Iran, gender-based oppression is legally embedded:

Women are legally required to wear hijabs in public.
They face inequality in marriage, divorce, and legal testimony.
Peaceful protests are met with imprisonment and violence.

3. Saudi Arabia

Despite recent reforms, gender inequality remains entrenched:

Guardianship laws still restrict key freedoms like marriage and healthcare.
Gender segregation and limitations in the workplace persist.
Activists who speak out are often detained or exiled.

4. Yemen

The ongoing civil war has only worsened conditions for women:

Women have extremely limited rights.
Child marriage is rampant.
Access to healthcare, including maternal care, is critically poor.

5. Syria

A decade of conflict has devastated rights and safety for women:

Gender-based violence, including rape, is used as a weapon of war.
Extremist groups enforce restrictive dress codes and behaviour.
Legal protections are almost nonexistent in some regions.

6. Somalia

One of the highest rates of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the world.
Lack of access to healthcare and education for women.
Patriarchal systems dominate legal and political institutions.

7. Pakistan

While legal rights exist, enforcement is weak and cultural practices prevail:

Honor killings and domestic violence are widespread.
Girls are often pulled from school for early marriage.
Transgender people face daily harassment despite some legal recognition.

8. Iraq

High rates of gender-based violence.
Conflict has rolled back progress on women’s rights.
Laws often fail to protect women from abuse or exploitation.

9. Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Sexual violence is frequently used in conflict zones.
Women lack political representation.
Health outcomes for women are among the worst globally.

10. India

While legally progressive in many areas, cultural inequality persists:

Caste and class discrimination compound gender inequality.
High rates of violence against women.
Skewed sex ratios due to gender-based abortion and neglect.
UN Source: UN Women on India

11. South Sudan

Among the highest maternal mortality rates in the world.
Women have little to no access to justice or support services.
Child marriage is a common practice.

12. North Korea

Widespread human rights violations affect all, but especially women.
Female defectors report systematic abuse, including forced abortion.
No political rights or gender protections.

13. Sudan

Recent political instability has rolled back women’s rights.
Legal system still supports male guardianship and control.
Gender-based violence is underreported and rarely prosecuted.

14. Mali

Early and forced marriages are still common.
Access to healthcare and education is limited, especially in rural areas.
FGM remains prevalent in many communities.

15. Chad

Very low rates of female literacy.
Widespread child marriage and domestic violence.
Cultural and religious norms restrict women’s mobility and agency.

Why This Matters

Gender inequality doesn’t exist in isolation, it intersects with poverty, conflict, climate change, and human rights. When women and gender-diverse people are denied opportunity, health, and safety, entire societies suffer.

The UN Sustainable Development Goal #5 aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. But real progress depends on political will, local activism, and global solidarity. The fight for gender justice is far from over, and these countries are a stark reminder of how far we still have to go. By staying informed, supporting grassroots movements, and pushing for international accountability, we can help create a future where gender no longer determines your worth, or your survival.

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Please note: the views and opinions expressed on this blog are that of my own and do not represent the opinions of any agency mentioned.

Where Is Gender Inequality the Worst in 2025?