The Reykjavík Index for Leadership

Measuring society’s perceptions of gender equality in leadership since 2018 

What is The Reykjavik Index?

Developed in partnership with the Reykjavík Global Forum, The Reykjavík Index for Leadership is the measure of how women and men are perceived in terms of their suitability for leadership. This is the eighth year of results in the G7. 

A score of 100 would mean that women and men were viewed by society as equally suitable for leadership. 

Launched in 2018, with the support of the Icelandic Government, the Index measures perceptions of women and men as leaders across 23 economic sectors. The initial findings cover the G7 group of countries together with Iceland. 

Verian presented the initial findings of the 2026 Reykjavík Index for Leadership on 10 November 2025 in Iceland. The full report report was launched at an event in New York on 12 March 2026.

Average G7 perceptions of gender equality in leadership are unchanged from last year, however individual countries are experiencing different trajectories

• This is our eighth year of gathering data consistently across the G7 nations (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America). 
• Our G7 score findings in 2018 were 72, and the highest they have reached over time is 73. In 2025, the G7 Reykjavík Index score was 68 which is unchanged from last year.
• Iceland continues to have the highest score recorded of The Reykjavík Index. 
  
• Research continued for a second year in Kenya and Nigeria, which both saw an increase in scores compared with 2024.
• This year, Verian also measured perceptions in Australia and New Zealand.

Countries within the G7 are experiencing different trajectories:

• Japan increased by 4 points.
• France and Italy each increased by 2.
• Canada held steady at 71.
  
• We continue to see Index scores decline in Germany and the USA, particularly among 18-34 year olds. 

The differing views of young men and young women on gender equality is not a recent phenomenon.

This cohort issue was apparent in our very first data, back in 2018, but since then it has widened to become increasingly important. It signals a wider paradigm shift in many G7 countries, as we see young people no longer having more ‘progressive’ attitudes than their parents. However, it is important to remember the nuance in this data. Within it, there will be polarised views including segments of young people who hold similar, or even more progressive, views than older generations.

In 2025, the most significant contrast can be seen in Germany, where there is an 11 point gap between 18-34 and 35-54  year olds.

Italy is an outlier this year, with little difference based on respondent age.

Perceptions of leadership suitability in the G7 vary based on sector

Our findings reveal that prejudice around suitability for leadership is not just against women. We have also seen the increase in prejudice against men in the sectors of the economy that has historically been viewed as associated with women. For example, men are seen as less suited for leadership than women in childcare. Meanwhile, women continue to face these challenges in defence, engineering and aerospace. 

Iceland continues to lead the way, although the country is not immune to the overall trend of decline.

With a Reykjavík Index of 86, this year’s findings show that Iceland continues to have the highest scores of any country measured with a Reykjavík Index of 86 compared to the G7 average of 68. 

 Field work period: September-November 2025  

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