71st in the world: what the gender gap index really says about Israel

The World Economic Forum has published its Global Gender Gap Index for 2026. Israel ranks 71st globally, up from 76th last year and 91st in 2024. The analysis shows that Israel has been more successful in closing the gap in education and economic opportunities, but a significant gap remains in access to political and economic power.

The World Economic Forum published its Global Gender Gap Index for 2026 this month. Israel ranks 71st globally, up from 76th last year and 91st in 2024. Israel's score stands at 71.7%, meaning it has closed 71.7% of the measured gender gap. The analysis shows that Israel has been far more successful in closing the gap in education and economic opportunities than in closing the gap in access to economic and political power. In the area of economic participation and opportunity, Israel scored 73% in 2025, the highest in the Middle East and North Africa. In education, Israel is close to full equality. In contrast, in political empowerment, Israel ranked 104th globally in 2025, with about 24% women in the Knesset and about 16% women ministers in the government. The author notes that the gap is not unique to Israel: worldwide, more than 96% of the gap in education and health has been closed, but only 22.1% of the gap in political empowerment. The analysis asks what happens on the path between women's skills and their place at the decision-making table.