Gender Gap is narrowing

“Gender Gap narrows in Nordic countries”

The World Economic Forum releases its Global Gender Gap report today ranking 128 countries in terms of their gender divide. Sweden tops the list having closed 80% of it's gender gap, according to the findings. The report assesses countries in four categories: economic participation and opportunity, health and survival, educational attainment and political empowerment. All countries in the top 20 made progress relative to their scores last year – some more so than others. Latvia (13) and Lithuania (14) made the biggest advances among the top 20, gaining six and seven places respectively, driven by smaller gender gaps in labour force participation and wages. The Report covers a total of 128 countries, representing over 90% of the world’s population.

The Gender Gap Index assesses countries on how well they are dividing their resources and opportunities among their male and female populations, regardless of the overall levels of these resources and opportunities. By providing a comprehensible framework for assessing and comparing global gender gaps and by revealing those countries that are role models in dividing these resources equitably between women and men, serves as a catalyst for greater awareness as well as greater exchange between policymakers.

Source: World Economic Forum | download PDF rankings