Although this year’s edition of the Global Gender Gap Index sees no new entrants to its top 10 list, it records some notable rank changes. The top spots continue to be held by smaller Western European countries, particularly the Nordics who occupy the top three positions, with two countries from the East Asia and the Pacific region, one country from the Sub-Saharan Africa region, one country from the Latin America and the Caribbean region, and one country from the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region also represented. Compared to the world average, the leaders of the Index perform particularly strongly on Political Empowerment, with all ranking in the top 15 on this subindex. All but three countries in the overall Index top 10 have now crossed the threshold of closing more than 80% of their overall gender gap—up from five both last year and in 2015.

Iceland (1) takes the top spot for the ninth year in a row, closing more than 87% of its overall gender gap. It remains the top performer on Political Empowerment. However, Iceland this year drops out of the global top 10 on Economic Participation and Opportunity due to a small increase of its gender gap in the number of women among legislators, senior officials and managers. It also has a marginal increase in its gender gap on Educational Attainment. However, Iceland also re-renters the global top 10 on the wage equality for similar work indicator, ranking in fifth place. Since the first edition of the Index in 2006, Iceland has closed approximately 10% of its total gender gap, making it one of the fastest-improving countries in the world.

Norway (2) overtakes Finland and regains the second place, closing more than 83% of its overall gender gap. It continues a multi-year steady improvement on its gender gap in the number of women among legislators, senior officials and managers, but this year sees slowing progress on its previous improvements in wage equality for similar work. Norway also records a slight decrease in the share of women in ministerial positions, moving down one spot on the Political Empowerment subindex to fourth, globally.

Finland (3) returns to its previous third-place position, closing more than 82% of its overall gender gap. It drops three spots on Political Empowerment, re-opening its previously fully-closed gender gap in the number of women in ministerial positions while narrowing its gender gap in the number of women in parliament. It has fully closed its gender gap on Educational Attainment.

Rwanda (4) continues its steady climb since first entering the Index and has now closed 82% of its overall gender gap, scoring narrowly behind Finland. This is mostly due to continued progress on its Economic Participation and Opportunity subindex score, on the back of improved parity in estimated earned income and, particularly, a significant narrowing of its gender gap in the number of women in ministerial positions. Combined with being the country with the highest share of female parliamentarians in the world (61%), it advances five spots on the Political Empowerment subindex, where it now ranks third globally. Rwanda has also fully closed its Health and Survival gender gap for the first time, although its Educational Attainment gender gap remains open.

Sweden (5), after continuously maintaining its overall Index ranking for eight years in a row, cedes its fourth place to Rwanda and now ranks fifth. The country has closed more than 81% of its overall gender gap. It maintains a strong position on the Economic Participation and Opportunity subindex, due to, among other factors, progress on the wage equality for similar work indicator. It does less well on the Health and Survival subindex, where it sees its small but persistent gender gap in healthy life expectancy widening.

Nicaragua (6) sees a big increase in its overall Index score and rises four places, to sixth. With more than 81% of its overall gender gap closed, it remains the best performer in the Latin America and the Caribbean region for the sixth year running. The latest rise is due, primarily, to a large improvement in gender parity on the estimated earned income indicator, for which the country enters the top 10 for the first time. It also rises two spots to take second place overall on the Political Empowerment subindex, reaching gender parity in ministerial positions for the first time since 2014, and also increasing its share of female parliamentarians to 46%, the fifth highest in the world. However, the country re-opens its gender gap in Educational Attainment, with a decline in its literacy rate.

Slovenia (7) moves up a spot due to improvements on the Economic Participation and Opportunity subindex and increased parity in the number of legislators, senior officials and managers. It also achieves gender parity in ministerial positions and fully closes its Health and Survival gender gap for the first time. With 80% of its overall gender gap closed, it remains the strongest performing country in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Since 2006, Slovenia has closed approximately 13% of its overall gender gap, making it one of the fastest-improving countries globally.

Ireland (8) slides two spots, a continued reversal from last year, and has closed 79% of its overall gender gap. It has widened its Health and Survival gender gap and also sees a decrease in gender parity in the number of women in ministerial positions. More positively, the country maintains a fully closed gender gap on Educational Attainment from last year and also sees an increase in gender parity in the number of legislators, senior officials and managers, continuing a steady trend since 2013.

New Zealand (9) maintains its position from last year—the only top 10 country besides Iceland with an unchanged ranking this year. It has closed 79% of its overall gender gap. The country rises four spots on the Political Empowerment subindex, placing twelfth, with increased gender parity in ministerial positions and parliamentarians. However, New Zealand is yet to fully re-close its Educational Attainment gender gap, re-opened last year for the first time since 2008.

The Philippines (10) completes this year’s top 10, slipping thee spots since last year. With 79% of its overall gender gap closed, it cedes its position as the highest performer in the East Asia and the Pacific region to New Zealand. A worsening performance on the wage equality for similar work indicator, dropping from 7th to 21st, partly accounts for this fall. The country also re-opens a Health and Survival gender gap for the first time since 2006, although the Educational Attainment gender gap remains fully closed.