Overall, Iceland (1) has claimed the top spot of the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2009 from Norway (3) which slipped to third position behind Finland (2). Sweden (4) completed the Nordic countries’ continued dominance of the top four.
The report’s 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. In other words, it is possible for a country with low income to have a high score (e.g. Mozambique, ranked at 26) or to have a high income and a low score (e.g. Saudi Arabia, ranked at 130).
The Philippines (9) lost ground for the first time in four years but remains the leading Asian country in the rankings. Singapore is ranked at 84 while Malaysia is ranked at 100 (out of 134 countries).
South Africa and Lesotho made great strides in closing their gender gaps to enter the top 10, at sixth and 10th position respectively.
For more information in English about gender equality in Norway, check:
http://www.gender.no/
http://www.ssb.no/likestilling_en/
