Republic of Moldova Rises to 36th Place in Global Ranking on Women’s Well-Being and Security

The Republic of Moldova ranks 36th among 181 countries included in the latest Women, Peace and Security Index, developed by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS). With a score of 0.821, Moldova ranks ahead of several European countries, including Romania, Bulgaria and Italy.

The Index assesses the status of women based on 13 indicators grouped into three key dimensions: inclusion, justice and security. The results reflect both the economic and social opportunities available to women and the level of legal protection and safety they enjoy.

Moldova Continues to Rise in the Global Ranking

Moldova’s position in the 2026 ranking reflects a significant improvement compared with previous editions of the Index.

In 2018, the country ranked 87th globally. In both 2020 and 2022, Moldova moved up to 64th place, followed by a further rise to 53rd in 2024. Its current position at 36th therefore represents Moldova’s best result to date.

With a score of 0.821, Moldova holds the highest position among the Eastern European countries included in this comparison. Romania ranks 43rd, Belarus 63rd, the Russian Federation 75th, and Ukraine 116th.

Moldova performs particularly well in areas such as women’s access to education, participation in the labour market, mobile phone use, the absence of discriminatory legal provisions, and access to justice.

At the same time, several areas still require further progress. These include women’s financial inclusion, representation in Parliament, efforts to combat domestic violence, and women’s perceptions of safety within their communities.

Nordic Countries Continue to Lead the Ranking

Northern European countries continue to set the global benchmark for women’s well-being, security and opportunities. Nordic countries occupy all five top positions in the ranking, reflecting consistently strong performance across the Index’s three core dimensions.

Denmark tops the global ranking with a score of 0.939, followed by Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland.

Their strong performance is driven by a combination of factors, including broad access to education, high levels of female labour-force participation, robust legal protections, access to financial services, substantial political representation and relatively low levels of violence.

Strong public institutions and well-developed social protection systems also play an important role in reducing inequalities and creating favourable conditions for women’s full participation in economic and social life.

Other countries among the leading positions include Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands and Austria.

Outside Europe, Australia and New Zealand continue to record strong results. Meanwhile, Costa Rica and Uruguay have entered the global top 50 for the first time, highlighting notable progress in Latin America in advancing women’s rights, security and well-being.

Conflict and Instability Continue to Undermine Women’s Security

At the other end of the ranking are countries affected by armed conflict, political instability and prolonged humanitarian crises.

Among the lowest-ranked countries are Afghanistan, Yemen, the Central African Republic, Syria, Sudan, Haiti, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, South Sudan and Myanmar.

The Index points to a strong connection between exposure to armed conflict and deteriorating conditions for women. More than 70% of women living in the 12 lowest-ranked countries reside within 50 kilometres of an armed conflict zone.

Under such circumstances, the risks of displacement, violence and abuse increase considerably, while access to justice, healthcare and protection mechanisms becomes more limited. Countries heavily affected by conflict also tend to perform poorly in areas such as maternal health and the ability of public institutions to safeguard women’s rights.

International research similarly shows that periods of conflict and instability increase women’s vulnerability, particularly where public institutions lack the capacity to provide effective legal protection and adequate social services. The World Health Organization identifies violence against women as one of the most widespread human rights violations worldwide.

What Does the Women, Peace and Security Index Measure?

The Index developed by GIWPS goes beyond measuring equality between women and men. It examines a broad range of factors that directly influence women’s quality of life, from economic and political participation to legal protection and personal security.

Through its 13 indicators, the Index assesses areas including economic inclusion, education, access to services, legal rights, political participation, and exposure to different forms of violence and insecurity.

The results show that countries at the top of the ranking generally combine broad economic and social opportunities with effective institutions, strong legal protections and high levels of security.

By contrast, countries experiencing prolonged conflict and instability often face multiple, interconnected challenges: economic opportunities are more limited, institutions are more vulnerable, access to essential services is restricted, and the risk of violence is significantly higher.

Moldova’s rise from 87th place in 2018 to 36th in 2026 highlights the progress achieved in recent years. At the same time, the results point to areas where further efforts are needed, particularly women’s financial inclusion, political representation, the prevention of domestic violence, and improving women’s safety within their communities.