Introduction
What are the 5 most gender equal countries in the world? Gender inequality is prevalent at school, work, and in other parts of your daily life.
In an effort to understand this gender gap, the World Economic Forum publishes the Gender Gap Index Report every year since 2006. The report provides a score that measures the level of gender inequality for each country, and the countries are ranked accordingly.
Let’s take a look at the top 5 gender equal countries in the world and why!
Top 5 Gender Equal Countries in the World
05: Sweden
Sweden is known for providing social welfare benefits to its citizens, especially free education costs from preschool to college. This free education cost is important for closing the gender wage gap, which is mainly caused by unequal access to higher education.
04: New Zealand
In 2022, female lawmakers became the majority in the New Zealand Parliament: 60 women to 59 men. This number includes its female Prime Minister and the Chief Justice. Equal representation in politics will lead to women empowerment.
03: Norway
Norway has the lowest crime rate in the world. Its prisons are extolled as one of the most humane, which led to a significant decrease in reoffending rates. It is one of the safest countries for women to live in and travel to!
02: Finland
Finland ranks second in gender equality and is also the happiest country in the world. The World Happiness Index measures national happiness through improvement in areas including GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices – that the quality of life will continue to get better.
What is the ranking of Finland in the World Happiness Index? Number one
01: Iceland
Social equality is one of the most important values in Iceland – equality in gender, age, and income. And that is why Iceland ranks the most peaceful country in the world. Iceland is the best country to live in for women and for everyone, not just for women.
What do the 5 Countries have in Common?
These 5 countries ranked top 5 in the Global Gender Gap Index Report by the World Economic Forum. And they all have two characteristics in common.
Read this to find out more about what Gender Gap Index is: What is Gender Gap Index? – Peace Issue – NEWS & INSIGHTS – Sunhak Peace Prize
One. Higher participation of women
The proportion of seats held by women in national parliament in the top 5 countries average 47.5% It is twice the global average in the year 2021, which is 24.3% An equal number of seats held by women in lawmaking means equal representation of women in decision-making.
Two. Equal economic opportunity
Providing equal access to economic opportunity is important to close the gender gap. The top 5 countries’ average glass-ceiling Index score was 77.1 which was 17 points higher than the OECD average of 60. A score of 100 means there is no gender inequality in the workplace.
*Glass-ceiling index measures gender gap in the workplace
For women in many countries, their gender acts as a barrier to pursuing higher positions, careers, and their dreams. But the top 5 gender-equal countries show that we can narrow the gender gap through continuous efforts and changes.
Gender equality is not the only factor to guarantee the highest quality of life. However, the best countries for women to live in are often the best countries for the other gender as well.
“Women’s representation in society is a reflection of their time.”
-From Mother of Peace
Hak Ja Han, Founder of the Sunhak Peace Prize-
