Iraq Ranks Near Bottom Among World’s Best Countries for Women
Within the Arab world, Iraq came in 11th out of 22 countries—trailing behind even war-torn Sudan.
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Iraq has landed near the bottom of a global ranking assessing the best countries for women, underscoring persistent gender disparities in political participation, safety, education, and economic empowerment.
According to a newly released report by CEOWORLD Magazine, Iraq ranked 123rd out of 156 countries surveyed in the 2025 Best Countries for Women Index. Within the Arab world, Iraq came in 11th out of 22 countries—trailing behind even war-torn Sudan.
Disparities in Gender Equality and Representation
The index is based on multiple indicators, including gender equality, women’s political participation, income parity, access to education, and the ability to live freely and securely. Iraq scored 68.73 out of a possible 100, reflecting modest progress but deep-rooted challenges.
The report highlighted several contributing factors to Iraq’s low standing: limited female representation in parliament, disproportionate economic participation, barriers to health services for women over age 15—particularly those who travel at night alone—as well as persistent gaps in literacy rates and labor force engagement for women over 25.
Despite recent legislative reforms and civil society efforts to bolster women’s rights, the index suggests that Iraq remains far behind its regional and global peers in closing the gender gap.
Europe Dominates the Top Ten
The top-ranking countries for women in 2025 were overwhelmingly European. The Netherlands took first place with a near-perfect score of 99.7, followed by Norway (99.4), Sweden (99.2), and Denmark (97.8). Canada (ranked sixth) and New Zealand (eighth) were the only non-European nations in the top ten.
Meanwhile, France, Switzerland, Finland, and Germany rounded out the leading ten nations, further cementing Europe’s dominance in advancing women’s rights and opportunities.
Arab Region: Iraq Trails Behind
Within the Arab world, Saudi Arabia ranked first (and 91st globally), followed by Oman, Jordan, the UAE, Algeria, Sudan, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, and Iraq. Egypt, Tunisia, and Bahrain followed in 12th, 13th, and 14th places, respectively.
While Iraq has made some constitutional guarantees for women's participation, critics argue that implementation remains cosmetic amid political gridlock, weak institutional enforcement, and conservative societal norms.
A Struggle for Rights and Freedoms
Iraq's ranking in the Best Countries for Women report mirrors its performance in other global indices. Earlier this year, Reporters Without Borders placed Iraq at 155th out of 180 countries in its 2025 World Press Freedom Index. The alarming decline in press freedom was attributed to political repression, partisan media control, and growing threats against journalists—dynamics that often intersect with women's struggles for voice and agency in Iraqi society.
Analysts warn that unless Baghdad undertakes substantive reforms to empower women economically and politically, Iraq’s low international standing will likely persist.
