Afghanistan Ranks 181st Out of 181 Countries in Global Women's Status Index

Afghanistan has ranked last, 181st out of 181 countries, in an index assessing women's status worldwide based on 13 criteria.

The index places Afghanistan among the bottom 10 countries for women's status and rights performance. Countries ranking higher than Afghanistan in this group include South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, Central African Republic, and Yemen. In these nations, including Afghanistan, one in every five women has experienced violence from their life partner. More than half of women reported not feeling safe in their communities, and nearly three-quarters live in close proximity to armed conflicts.

Global data indicates that about one in six people worldwide is exposed to conflict. In 2024, over 676 million women lived near conflicts, marking a 74% increase from 2010 and the highest recorded figure to date. Armed conflicts disproportionately affect women and vulnerable groups, coinciding with setbacks in women's rights and heightened violence.

Proximity to conflict negatively impacts women's well-being. Countries at the bottom of the index, including Afghanistan, also perform poorly in other areas. They score lowest on average in access to justice and have a maternal mortality rate of 226 deaths per 100,000 live births, exceeding the global average. Targeted political violence against women in these countries is three times the global average.