UNDATED – With Women’s Equality Day around the corner and the U.S. ranking as only the 42nd best country for gender equality, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on the Best & Worst States for Women’s Equality in 2025, as well as expert commentary.
In order to determine where women receive the most equal treatment in American society, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 17 key metrics. The data set ranges from the gap between female and male executives to the disparity in unemployment rates for women and men.
| Best States for Women’s Equality | Worst States for Women’s Equality | |
| 1. Hawaii 2. Nevada 3. Maryland 4. Maine 5. Oregon 6. New Mexico 7. California 8. Iowa 9. Alaska 10. Vermont | 41. Ohio 42. Virginia 43. New Jersey 44. Wyoming 45. Oklahoma 46. Louisiana 47. Arkansas 48. Idaho 49. Texas 50. Utah |
Best vs. Worst
- In every state, women earn less than men. California has the lowest gap, with women earning 10.10 percent less, whereas Louisiana has the highest, 26.30 percent.
- In nearly every state, women represent the highest share of minimum-wage workers. Alaska, Hawaii and North Dakota have an equal ratio of women to men. Delaware and Georgia have the highest minimum-wage workers gap, at 70.00 percent.
- West Virginia has the highest unemployment-rate gap favoring women, with 2.20 percent more unemployed men. Kentucky has the highest gap favoring men, with 1.30 percent more unemployed women. The unemployment rate is equal for men and women in Iowa, Maine and Minnesota.
- In nearly every state legislature, male lawmakers outnumber their female counterparts. Nevada has the highest gap favoring women, with 62.50 percent more women. West Virginia has the highest gap favoring men, with 86.44 percent more men.
To view the full report and your state’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-and-worst-states-for-women-equality/5835