According to the 2026 Global Gender Gap Report released by the World Economic Forum (WEF), China has improved its standing in international gender equality metrics. The country rose from 103rd place in 2025 to 96th in 2026, out of 145 economies assessed. This shift represents the first time China has ranked within the top 100 since 2016.

The report indicates that China has successfully closed 69.9% of its gender gap. This progress is attributed to a 1.3 percentage point increase in the country's overall score compared to the prior year. The WEF, a Switzerland-based non-profit organization, compiles this annual data to track the progress of nations in achieving gender parity across various economic and social sectors.

While the report highlights this upward trend, it remains a singular data point within the broader context of China's long-term gender parity trajectory. The improvement suggests a measurable narrowing of the gap, though the report does not detail the specific policy changes or economic factors that drove this year's shift. As of the 2026 assessment, China remains in the bottom half of the 145 economies surveyed, despite the improvement in its global ranking.