In the latest gender-equality ranking of countries, the U.S. doesn't even crack the top 25.

in the global push for gender equality in everything from business to politics, education to health, it's Europe that has made the greatest strides to close the so-called gender gap.

Norway, Finland and Sweden are ranked the best countries for gender equality, according to a recent study from the World Economic Forum

Those Nordic countries and their Western European neighbors account for 16 of the top 30 countries with the greatest gender parity in the world

Meanwhile, the U.S. ranked surprisingly low at No. 27, behind Lesotho (No. 16), Mozambique (No. 18) and Moldova (No. 20)

The Global Gender Gap Report measures the size of the gender gap

for 130 countries in four critical areas: economic participation and opportunity, health and survival, educational attainment, and political empowerment

Norway, ranked No. 1, scored 82%

Finland came in second

82%

81.4%

The U.S. has closed 72% of its gender gap