China returns to top 100 in gender parity ranking for first time since 2016
For the first time in a decade, China has returned to the top 100 out of 145 economies in an annual global report assessing gender equality. China closed 69.9 per cent of its gender gap in 2025, rising to 96th place from 103rd the previous year and increasing 1.3 percentage points, according to the 2026 Global Gender Gap Report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), an international…
China has returned to the top 100 of the Global Gender Gap Report for the first time since 2016, according to a recent assessment. The World Economic Forum's annual report, published in 2026, ranked China 96th out of 145 economies, an improvement from its previous 103rd place. This ranking represents a 1.3 percentage point increase, with China closing 69.9% of its gender gap.
The improvement was primarily driven by progress in economic participation and opportunity, where China's score rose by 10.3 percentage points since 2006. However, the country still struggles with a skewed sex ratio at birth, at 0.907, and lags in political empowerment, ranking 111th. Despite these challenges, experts are cautiously optimistic about China's progress, with some calling for more balanced parental leave, affordable childcare, and stronger anti-discrimination enforcement to truly achieve gender equality.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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