Why Iowa Ranks Among The Best For Women’s Equality

It was on June 4, 1919, that Congress passed the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.  It took until August 20, 1920, before the Amendment was certified by the Secretary of State.

106 years later, women's gender inequality remains a persistent challenge.  In 2025, the U.S. ranked 42nd out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Index, improving by only one spot from the previous year.

And depending on where you go in the U.S., things can be drastically different for women from one state to another.

What Factors Into Best & Worst States for Women's Equality?

three women sitting around table using laptops

To identify where women enjoy the greatest level of equality, WalletHub compared all 50 states across 17 key indicators of gender equality. Our analysis examines factors ranging from the gap between female and male executives to differences in unemployment rates between women and men.

The three main categories used are:

• Workplace Environment (40 points)
• Education and Health (40 points)
• Political Empowerment (20 points)

You can see the full breakdown of each metric in the category at WalletHub.com.

Iowa In The Top 10 For Women's Equality

The best in the country is Hawaii.  Another reason to soak up the sun. The worst in the country is Utah.

Iowa comes in strong at number 7 in the country.  WalletHub points out that Iowa has the smallest executive positions gap in the country.

Illinois comes in 10th.  Minnesota and Wisconsin are 14th and 17th, respectively.  Just don't go south of Iowa.  Missouri comes in 40th.

“Ensuring women’s equality requires more than simply giving men and women the same fundamental rights. States also need to work to make sure that women receive equal treatment to men when it comes to financial opportunities, education, and politics. The best states for women’s equality have drastically reduced the disparities between men and women on multiple fronts.” says Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst.

You can find out more about the study at WalletHub.