Ireland in top third for closing gender gap

IRELAND is in the top third of 58 countries for closing the gender gap between men and women, a study has shown.

Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark and Finland top the chart compiled by the World Economic Forum (WEF), which takes into account key factors such as education and economic status.

The study says the chart toppers are characterised by “strongly liberal societies” with impressive records of “openness and transparency” in government.

These countries have “comprehensive safety nets” for vulnerable groups in the population and women there have access to a wider spectrum of educational, political and work opportunities.

“While no country has yet managed to eliminate the gender gap, the Nordic countries have succeeded best in narrowing it ,” the study says.

The study measures economic participation, economic opportunity and political empowerment.

It also takes into account educational attainment and health and wellbeing.

Augusto Lopez-Claros, chief economist at the WEF, said: “Our aim is essentially to allow countries to identify their strengths and weaknesses in an area of critical importance for the development process and to provide opportunities for countries to learn from the experiences of countries that have been more successful in promoting the equality of women and men.”

The report covers all 30 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries and 28 emerging markets.

In 17th place, the US lags behind many Western European states, despite doing well in educational attainment and political empowerment.

But it ranks poorly on economic opportunity and health and wellbeing.

Egypt comes bottom of the list, with Turkey and then Pakistan the next worst.