Oppression: Top 10 Worst Countries for Women

Gender-based discrimination and injustice remain widespread challenges in many countries, impacting millions of women daily. Various studies use different methods to assess this inequality, leading to reports that highlight the severity of the issue.

One significant report is the 2021-2022 Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Report, which ranked 170 countries based on their National Index Score, measuring women’s peace and security. The findings expose alarming realities, especially in the ten worst countries for women, where the statistics reveal shocking and distressing conditions.

1. Afghanistan – 0.278 (170/170)

Afghanistan is regarded as the most oppressive country for women, largely due to deeply ingrained gender roles and the impact of years of conflict. It ranks last among 170 countries in the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Index and holds the 157th position out of 162 in the UN Gender Inequality Index.

Financial inclusion for women is extremely low, with only 7.2% of Afghan women having access to financial services. Civil liberties are severely restricted, leading to one of the highest rates of intimate partner violence, with 35% of women experiencing domestic abuse.

Education is also a major challenge. 37% of Afghan women are illiterate, and many are forced out of school. Most girls do not study beyond second grade, and one-third are married before 18, facing serious health risks during pregnancy.

Additionally, illegal honour killings remain widespread, further worsening the situation for women in Afghanistan.

2. Syria – 0.375 (169/170)

Syria remains one of the most dangerous places for women, ranking extremely low in justice, security, and inclusion. The ongoing war, often called the “worst humanitarian disaster of our time,” has significantly worsened conditions for women since it began in March 2011. The country ranks among the lowest on the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Index, largely due to widespread rape, torture in secret prisons, malnutrition, and rampant gender-based violence. These issues deeply affect women’s health, dignity, security, and autonomy.

Women in Syria gained the right to vote in the mid-1950s, and honour killings were only criminalized in 2020. However, marriage is still seen as a contract between a husband and the wife’s father. Shockingly, 75 out of every 100,000 Syrian women die due to organized violence, and only 16.9% feel safe in their communities. Reports indicate massive conflict-related sexual violence, but only 25% of women report intimate partner abuse. The situation is even worse for Syrian refugee women, who face extreme vulnerability and hardship.

3. Yemen – 0.388 (168/170)

Yemen’s patriarchal society and rigid gender roles place women in an extremely vulnerable position. Both tradition and modern culture foster negative attitudes toward women, worsened by discriminatory laws and economic inequality. Only 6.04% of Yemeni women are part of the workforce, and Article 40 of Yemen’s Personal Status Law restricts their employment opportunities by requiring their husband’s approval to work. Shockingly, there are no legal protections against sexual harassment in the workplace, and women are often blamed for such incidents.

The ongoing conflict in Yemen has made life even worse for women and girls, who are often treated as second-class citizens. The country is suffering from a severe economic crisis, with damaged infrastructure, collapsed services, and extreme shortages of food, water, and healthcare. Cultural norms limit women’s mobility, making it harder for them to seek help or provide for their families. Women in Yemen have no legal rights to make family decisions, no protection against spousal abuse, and can even face further violence or arrest if they try to report it.

4. Pakistan – 0.476 (167/170)

In the 2021 Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Index, Pakistan ranks 167th out of 170 countries, making it one of the worst places for women. Gender discrimination is deeply ingrained in society, laws, and cultural norms, severely affecting women’s lives.

On average, girls receive less than four years of education, and child marriage remains common. The female employment rate is only 21%, with just 7% having financial inclusion. Violence against women, including rape, acid attacks, and illegal honour killings, is widespread, and male dominance in households is widely accepted.

Additionally, women’s rights vary significantly across provinces, distorting national averages. In the lowest-ranked regions, conditions for women are four times worse than in the highest-ranking areas, exposing the harsh reality of poverty and gender inequality in Pakistan.

5. Iraq – 0.516 (166/170)

In October 2019, Iraq gained global attention due to protest movements, where many journalists faced threats and killings, especially in central and southern regions. Militia groups were accused of arresting, kidnapping, and brutally shooting reporters, contributing to 17 unsolved journalist murders over the past 15 years.

The female population in Iraq continues to suffer from ongoing war and sectarian violence, worsened by discriminatory laws that reinforce gender inequality. Iraq consistently ranks among the worst countries for women, with gender-based violence normalized.

In 2010, one in five Iraqi women experienced domestic violence, and by 2012, at least 36% of married women had suffered intimate partner abuse. A UN Women report confirms that Iraq’s gender gap is widening, with women and girls having limited participation in key fields.

6. South Sudan – 0.541(165/170)

South Sudan remains one of the worst countries for women, where deeply rooted gender norms thrive in a traditionally patriarchal society. Ongoing conflict further worsens these inequalities, both in communities and households. Women are largely excluded from decision-making and political roles, with little control over their own lives. Men dominate household decisions, while women lack land rights and resource ownership.

In the 2021 Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Index, South Sudan ranked 165th out of 170 countries for women’s rights and security. The country also has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world, with at least one woman dying per 100 pregnancies due to complications during childbirth. Financial inclusion for women is less than 5%, and one in four South Sudanese women reports experiencing intimate partner violence.

7. Democratic Republic Of Congo – 0.547 (163/170)

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) ranks 163rd out of 170 countries on the 2021 Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Index and 150th out of 162 on the UN’s 2020 Gender Inequality Index. The country has made little progress toward gender equality, with discrimination present in every sector. Despite its rich natural resources, DR Congo remains one of the world’s least developed nations, with over 7.5 million people in urgent need of humanitarian aid.

Women in DR Congo face systemic discrimination, reinforced by biased national laws that normalize poor treatment. In 2010, a UN representative referred to the country as the “rape capital of the world,” with studies showing 48 rapes occur every hour. About 37% of Congolese women experience intimate partner violence annually, while over half will face such violence in their lifetime. Child marriage is widespread, with 37% of girls married before turning 18. Additionally, 124 out of every 1,000 girls aged 15 to 19 will give birth. Education disparities are severe, with 65.8% of men receiving education beyond primary school, compared to only 36.7% of women.

8. Chad – 0.547 (163/170)

According to the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Index, Chad ranks as the eighth-worst country for women and 160th out of 162 countries on the UN’s 2020 Gender Inequality Index. Child marriage is widespread, with the median age being 16 for girls and 22 for boys, as reported by Concern in 2015. One interviewee described early marriage as a tradition that puts girls at risk of pregnancy complications, surgery, death, and cases of running away.

Chad has the second-highest maternal mortality rate in the world, with 1,140 deaths per 100,000 live births. On average, women receive less than two years of education and are severely underrepresented in the national parliament. The country once had the highest rate of female genital mutilation (FGM) until the Reproductive Health Law was enacted two decades ago. Since these issues gained global attention, reports of intimate partner violence have declined.

9. Sudan – 0.556 (162/170)

According to UNICEF, more than one-third of Sudanese women aged 15 to 49 believe that a husband has the right to beat his wife under certain conditions. A large percentage of women aged 20 to 24 were also married before turning 18.

Despite these challenges, Sudan has made progress in women’s rights since 2019. Key advancements include the criminalization of female genital mutilation (FGM) and achieving 40% female representation in the transitional parliament. Some restrictive laws on women’s rights were revoked, granting greater personal and professional freedom to women.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic slowed this progress, and by 2021, female representation in parliament dropped to 22%.

10. Sierra Leone – 0.563 (161/170)

Although Sierra Leone has remained relatively peaceful for two decades, progress toward gender equality has been slow. The 2014–2016 Ebola epidemic further worsened the situation, leading to a sharp increase in unplanned teen pregnancies. According to the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Index, only 45.8% of women feel safe walking alone at night in their communities. Outdated gender norms remain widespread, and female genital mutilation (FGM) is alarmingly common, with 90% of women and girls aged 15 to 49 experiencing some form of FGM.

Sierra Leone also has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with 1,120 women dying per 100,000 births due to pregnancy-related complications. Education opportunities for women remain scarce, as most receive less than three years of schooling, and gender-based violence in schools is often ignored by teachers. Efforts like the “Safe Learning Model” aim to combat these challenges and end the normalization of discrimination against women from a young age.

These worst countries for women rank among 170 nations based on peace, security, and gender rights. While some progress has been made, factors like conflict, underdevelopment, and traditional patriarchy continue to oppress and endanger women worldwide.

The WPSI Index (2021-22); best country for women (rank1) – worst country for women (rank 170)

Conclusion

The 10 worst countries for women, as identified by the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Index, reveal a harsh reality of gender inequality and the daily struggles faced by women. While there have been some advancements, these nations remain burdened by conflict, poverty, and deeply rooted patriarchal systems that fuel violence, discrimination, and limited opportunities for women.

From high rates of child marriage and maternal mortality to widespread gender-based violence and restricted access to education and healthcare, women in these countries face unimaginable hardships. Although global awareness and advocacy for women’s rights continue to grow, significant efforts are still needed to ensure that women in these regions can live with safety, dignity, and equality.

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