With an average remaining gender gap of 27.5%, North America is one of the regions making the most progress towards gender parity overall. However, while both countries in the region have closed more than 70% of their overall gender gap, their paths have diverged markedly since 2015, when their scores and ranks were practically tied.

Canada (16) maintains the same Index rank this year, defending its top spot in the region as well as its position in the global top 20 on the overall Index, with modest improvements across a range of gender parity indicators. The country’s gender gap on the Educational Attainment subindex remains fully closed since 2013, although its Health and Survival gender gap remains open. Currently, Canada has closed just over 77% of its overall gender gap, an increase of 3% since 2015.

The United States (51) moves down two spots compared to last year. It records some modest improvements on the Economic Opportunity and Participation subindex—particularly with regard to wage equality for similar work—but a directional reversal in education and virtually no change on the Political Empowerment subindex, which stands at its lowest level since 2007, due, in particular, to a significant decrease in gender parity in ministerial level positions. More positively, the United States continues to rank in the global Index top 20 on the Economic Opportunity and Participation subindex, highlighting the substantial potential of the country’s next-generation female workforce. Currently, the United States has closed exactly 72% of its overall gender gap, a decrease of 2% since 2015.