Belgium named best country for women to work & live in 2025

Belgium has been identified as the top country for women to work and live in 2025, according to a new study by the marketing agency Click Intelligence.

The research assessed nations across several gender and economic indicators, including the proportion of women business owners, women in managerial roles, the employment gap between genders, gender wage disparity, the length of maternity leave, and women's feelings of security at night. Each factor contributed to an overall Women's Well-Being Score, reflecting both professional and personal quality of life for women.

Belgium leads the ranking

Belgium achieved the highest Women's Well-Being Score, recording the lowest gender wage gap among the top ten at 1.19%. The country also provides up to 15 months of maternity leave, ranking amongst the most generous globally. Around 36% of management positions are held by women, and only 15% of women report feeling unsafe at night, a figure lower than in many other countries surveyed.

Slovenia, positioned second, distinguishes itself with 45% of managerial jobs occupied by women, placing it amongst the highest rates worldwide. Slovenia also reports a 27% rate of female-owned businesses and an identical 15-month maternity leave provision as Belgium. Its gender employment gap is relatively low at 8.4%.

Portugal and Spain among top performers

Portugal follows as the third best location for women, with women owning 30.2% of businesses and holding 40% of top executive roles. The employment gap between men and women stands at 8.2%, and the wage gap at 9.35% remains well below the average for developed markets.

Spain holds the fourth position, noted for one of the lowest rates of women expressing concerns for their personal safety at night (17.3%). Spanish law also grants the longest period of parental leave, at 16 months, while Spain's gender wage gap stands at 6.72%, among the lowest in the ranking.

France completes the top five, with women benefitting from 16 months of maternity leave and filling 38% of senior roles. Women own 25% of French businesses, and the gender employment gap is recorded at 7.8%, with a below-average wage gap.

Nordic nations and Australia

Sweden ranks sixth, highlighting robust female representation with women occupying 43% of managerial roles. The country posts the lowest employment gap at 6.3% and maintains a low wage differential. Swedish women are also entitled to up to 14 months of parental leave.

Australia is ranked as the best non-European country for women, in seventh position. Nearly half of the nation's managerial positions are held by women, and almost a third of Australian businesses are owned by women. Australia also features a below-average gender employment gap.

The United States, Finland, and Estonia

The United States comes eighth, with women owning 35% of businesses, the highest proportion in the study. American women also hold nearly half of all managerial roles.

Finland ranks ninth, with women owning 33% of local firms. Finnish women face a 7.5% employment gap and may benefit from up to 15 months of maternity leave.

Estonia rounds out the top ten, with women holding 47% of management positions, second only to Australia. Around a third of Estonian companies are female-owned, and only 8.5% of women report feeling unsafe at night, the lowest rate in the ranking.

Global context

Despite improvements, the study notes that women comprise 47% of the global workforce yet earn, on average, 20% less than men. The analysis highlights varying progress within each country and suggests workplace equality is influenced by both policy and social perceptions of safety and opportunity.

"One trend we're seeing is how quickly women are moving into new industries," says James Owen, Co-founder and Director at Click Intelligence. "For example, tech and green businesses have become popular choices for female founders because they're less tied to legacy structures and more open to new ideas. Online tools also make it easier for women to start up with less money and reach customers directly. Another big change is how women are building strong networks and supporting each other, which helps them grow faster and break into areas that were once hard to enter."

The research suggests that while progress varies depending on national context, wider access to maternity leave, representation in leadership, lower gender wage gaps, and improvements in personal safety remain consistent indicators of women's well-being and career opportunities.