# Japan gender equality rankings in 2026

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/japan-gender-equality-rankings-in-2026
> Updated: 2026-09-22T19:22:32.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2.

The 2026 Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum ranks Japan 117th out of 145 surveyed countries. While Japan improved one spot from the previous year, its overall achievement rate of 67.0% remains the lowest in the G7.

Performance varies significantly by sector. Japan shows near parity in health and education, ranking 49th and 68th respectively. However, the nation faces substantial challenges in economic and political sectors. Economic participation and opportunity is ranked 119th, and political empowerment is ranked 121st.

Despite the historic appointment of Sanae Takaichi as Japan’s first female Prime Minister, structural barriers persist. Reports indicate that female representation in the Diet and cabinet remains low, and recent decreases in female election winners have been noted. In contrast, Iceland continues to lead the global rankings.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-22: Japan ranks 117th in WEF Global Gender Gap Report 2026

Japan ranked 117th in the WEF's Global Gender Gap Report 2026, struggling significantly in political participation and economic opportunity despite minor improvements in overall ranking.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/japan-ranks-117th-in-wef-global-gender-gap-report-2026

### 2026-09-15: Japan ranks lowest in G7 for gender equality

Japan ranks 117th in the 2026 Global Gender Gap Report, remaining the lowest-performing G7 nation despite Sanae Takaichi becoming the country's first female Prime Minister.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/japan-ranks-lowest-in-g7-for-gender-equality

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Cite as: Japan gender equality rankings in 2026. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/japan-gender-equality-rankings-in-2026