Cover While the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap 2025 report might demonstrate the fastest narrowing of the global gender gap since the pandemic, full parity is still 123 years away—and in Asia, even longer (Image: Getty Images/shih-wei)
While the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap 2025 report might demonstrate the fastest narrowing of the global gender gap since the pandemic, full parity is still 123 years away—and in Asia, even longer (Image: Getty Images/shih-wei)
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The World Economic Forum has released its annual Global Gender Gap report, which reveals that at the current pace, it will take 123 years to close the global gender gap. We look at what it reveals about Asia
The release last week of the Global Gender Gap Report 2025 by the World Economic Forum paints a complex portrait of both progress and persistent challenges in the global pursuit of gender equality.
While the report heralds the fastest narrowing of the global gender gap since the pandemic, marking the gap at 68.8 per cent closed, a sobering reality remains: at this pace, full parity is still 123 years away. This means that at the current rate of change women today—and their daughters and granddaughters—will not see true parity in their lifetimes.
The Global Gender Gap report’s findings speak to the systemic barriers still defining women’s economic, educational, health and political lives—especially across Asia’s diverse economies.
See also: Why it costs us millions when women don’t negotiate their salaries
Asia—a region of stark contrasts
Asia’s performance in the report—based on data from 148 countries across four dimensions: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment—reveals a mixed picture.
Central Asia and Eastern Asia and the Pacific surpass the global average, with parity scores of 69.8 per cent and 69.4 per cent respectively. Southern Asia (64.6 per cent) and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) (61.7 per cent) lag further behind.
Central Asia’s timeline to parity is a daunting 208 years, while Southern Asia is projected to take 138 years, Eastern Asia and the Pacific 179 years, and MENA 185 years.
Yet, while Central Asia ranks highest regionally—it is among the three top-scoring regions for Economic Participation and Opportunity (71.2 per cent), Educational Attainment (99.3 per cent) and Health and Survival (97.3 per cent)—its timeline to parity is a daunting 208 years (it has the second lowest score for Political Empowerment out of all regions at 11.6 per cent)—longer than anywhere else in the world.
The timelines for achieving full parity in Southern Asia is projected to take 138 years, Eastern Asia and the Pacific 179 years, and MENA 185 years. These figures stand in stark contrast to the more optimistic projections for Latin America (57 years) and Europe (76 years), underscoring the unique hurdles that persist within our continent.
Education soars—but does it empower?
The Global Gender Gap 2025 report’s data confirms what many in Asia’s elite education circles already know: women often outpace men in attaining higher education. Yet these gains are frequently stifled by what the report terms a “drop-to-the-top” phenomenon. Women dominate classrooms but are underrepresented in boardrooms.
Across much of Southern Asia and MENA, Economic Participation and Opportunity scores remain the lowest globally, at 40.6 per cent and 42.4 per cent respectively.
Take Indonesia: the nation climbed three positions to 97th globally with a 69.2 per cent score, having made notable strides with women now outnumbering men in tertiary education enrolment, and nearly half of senior roles being filled by women. But across much of Southern Asia and MENA, Economic Participation and Opportunity scores remain the lowest globally, at 40.6 per cent and 42.4 per cent respectively.
While talent is abundant; opportunity is not. This inefficiency is more than unjust—it is economically irrational. Women’s leadership has been linked to stronger governance and enhanced business performance. The missed dividend is palpable.
See also: Why educating girls is not just about gender equality
Political empowerment: the final frontier
While countries such as Bangladesh (now ranked 24th globally) have made giant strides in political parity—achieving 22.2 per cent female ministerial representation and full parity at the head-of-state level—others remain woefully behind. Nine of the 19 economies in Eastern Asia and the Pacific have never had a female head of state. In MENA, political parity is a mere 10.5 per cent, and this underrepresentation of women is by no means limited to Asia.
Within the region, Malaysia paints a concerning picture at 108th globally with a 68.1 per cent score. Its economy struggles in particular with political empowerment, scoring under 10 per cent with women holding just 12.5 per cent of ministerial positions—a 77.78 per cent deficit that highlights the persistence of traditional power structures.
Nine of the 19 economies in Eastern Asia and the Pacific have never had a female head of state.
New Zealand, the Pacific’s trailblazer (ranking 5th globally, 82.7 per cent), stands almost alone in reaching over 60 per cent political parity.
Elsewhere, backsliding is a real risk. Japan, for example, saw a steep decline in female ministerial roles—from 25 per cent to just 10 per cent in one year—underscoring the fragility of progress.
A glass half full—and draining
While there are pockets of significant progress—such as the Philippines ranking 20th globally with a 78.1 per cent parity score and climbing five positions year-on-year, Cambodia’s soaring female labour force participation and China’s improving sex ratio at birth—the threat of regression is real. In Pakistan, the only country to see a second consecutive annual drop in overall gender parity, female ministerial representation has now hit zero.
The Philippines ranks 20th globally with an overall parity score of 78.1 per cent, and climbing five positions since the previous year.
There is also the looming shadow of geoeconomic fragmentation. As global trade patterns shift, women in Asia’s export-driven economies are especially vulnerable. These are women who have fought to enter the formal labour market, only to face economic shocks that disproportionately affect their jobs and wages. Trade wars and tariff shifts aren’t gender-neutral. They hit women hardest and longest.
See also: From Gabriela Silang to Liliosa Hilao: 9 women who shaped Philippine history
Bridging the implementation gap
Perhaps the most telling insight is not in the data itself, but in its implications. Across Asia, many countries boast robust legal frameworks for gender equality. Yet the mechanisms to enforce these laws remain weak or under-resourced.
Bangladesh stands out not only for its political representation, but also for having a more developed supportive framework—infrastructure that fosters gender equality—than its legal framework. It’s a powerful reminder that culture, institutions and intent matter as much as legislation.
What this means for Asia
For Asia’s business owners, investors, philanthropists, policymakers and cultural leaders—the question is no longer why gender parity matters. It is how we accelerate it.
The report signals clear opportunities:
- Invest in leadership pipelines that convert education into executive power
- Champion gender-responsive trade and industrial policy to shield women from the volatility of global markets
- Support initiatives that build institutional capacity, not just legal compliance
- Mentor, fund and elevate women into public office and corporate leadership
Because while 123 years is the forecast, the future is still ours to shape. The next frontier of gender equality won’t be won in reports. It will be won in rooms where decisions are made—rooms where women must be.
About
Rachel Duffell is regional content director for Power & Purpose, including Front & Female, and former regional content director for Tatler Dining. She is a journalist and editor who has been covering people, gender, impact, leadership, culture and lifestyle for more than 15 years.
