Kinshasa: The World Economic Forum (WEF) has released its Global Gender Gap Report 2025, revealing that seven African countries are among the ten lowest-ranked nations globally in terms of gender parity. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) stands out by ranking 143rd with a score of 60.1 percent on the Global Gender Gap Index.
According to Global Voices, the DRC, despite its abundant natural resources and being home to the world's second-largest rainforest, remains one of the five poorest countries globally, as noted by the World Bank Group (WBG). It is also ranked 175th out of 182 countries on the Human Development Index, with significant gender disparities permeating various societal aspects.
A UN policy brief highlights that in the DRC, women have limited access to decent jobs, and girls are less likely to receive education compared to boys. Byobe Malenga, a multimedia journalist based in Kinshasa, underscores the underrepresentation of women in parliament, local governments, political parties, and leadership roles across nearly every sector.
Malenga notes that social norms and structural inequalities contribute to the marginalization of women in decision-making spheres. Barriers such as lack of funding, sexism, political violence, and limited educational access hinder political inclusion for women. In the provinces, only one woman holds a gubernatorial position, despite a woman serving as prime minister nationally.
The DRC constitution, through articles 5, 14, and 15, establishes a legal basis for equality and equity, yet women occupy only 7.2 percent of the highest decision-making positions nationally. Climate shocks further exacerbate gender disparities, impacting women—who constitute 73 percent of the agricultural workforce—most severely through floods and droughts.
Women in the DRC often find themselves relegated to secondary roles in decision-making during such crises, lacking real power, as Malenga points out. Additionally, the World Bank Group (WBG) reports that only 16.8 percent of Congolese women complete secondary school, half the rate of men.
Malenga stresses the need for empowerment, stating, "We must empower one another. That way, we strengthen our communities, but without urgent interventions, the country's gender ranking will continue to mask the everyday hardships the country is facing."
The report notes significant trends across the continent, with Benin recording notable improvement by gaining 4.6 percentage points and climbing 21 places to 113th. Conversely, Togo and Sierra Leone experienced declines, while Nigeria managed a slight improvement.
Globally, the gender gap has narrowed slightly from 68.4 percent in 2024 to 68.8 percent in 2025, driven by advancements in political empowerment and economic participation. Iceland continues to lead the index, being the only economy to close over 90 percent of its gender gap since 2022. However, the report emphasizes that at the current pace, achieving full gender parity globally will take 123 years.
