It will take an estimated 123 years to achieve gender equality worldwide, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025 — a slight improvement from last year’s 132-year projection.

While the timeline remains long, the report suggests progress. “In 2024, we were 132 years away from parity. This year, it’s 123,” the WEF said, noting that accelerated efforts could fuel economic growth as well as resilience.

The report tracks gender gaps in four areas — economic participation, education, health and political empowerment — across 148 countries, representing roughly two thirds of the global population. Overall, 68.8 per cent of the global gender gap has been closed, up 0.3 percentage points from last year. Political and economic gaps remain the widest.

Iceland retained its top ranking for the sixteenth year, having closed more than 90 per cent of its gap. Finland and Norway followed, while Britain climbed to fourth place owing to a more gender-balanced Cabinet. Namibia and New Zealand were the only non-European nations in the top ten.

Latin America and the Caribbean are on pace to reach gender parity in 57 years — the fastest rate of any region.

Locally, a May 2024 Labour Force Survey update revealed that women in Bermuda have a 7 per cent higher median gross annual income than men (women earned $4,481 more). The surprising development was attributed to a higher level of tertiary education among women, though disparities still exist along racial and occupational lines.

In October 2024, Bermuda’s newly established Gender Affairs Council began work on issues such as gender-based pay disparity and workplace discrimination. The council, funded by the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, is tasked with building a comprehensive framework to address these gaps.

Meanwhile, Europe and North America could close their gender gaps in 76 and 89 years respectively. Central Asia and the Middle East may take over 180 years at existing rates.

The WEF identified five key areas to accelerate progress: boosting women’s participation in leadership, making sure career pathways are flexible and supported by a strong care infrastructure, translating educational gains into leadership roles, improving political representation and enforcing existing gender-equal laws.

The report warns that inaction could hinder economic performance. “Simply put, if women benefit, everyone benefits,” it stated. With global economic uncertainty rising, the WEF said, gender parity is an economic necessity.