In 2024, global efforts to improve gender equality have continued to shape societies, with several countries making significant strides in offering women equal rights, and access to healthcare, education, and opportunities in the workforce. These countries stand out for their commitment to gender equality, as reflected in their Gender Equality Index (GEI) scores. The following article ranks the top 10 best countries for women in 2024 based on their GEI scores.
1. Denmark (GEI Score: 0.932)
Denmark leads the world as the best country for women in 2024, with a GEI score of 0.932. Danish society emphasizes equal access to healthcare, education, and employment, with progressive policies supporting work-life balance, parental leave, and universal healthcare. Women in Denmark benefit from strong legal protections, generous welfare systems, and one of the highest female workforce participation rates globally.
Key Strengths:
- Robust social welfare programs.
- Gender parity in political participation and leadership.
- Comprehensive healthcare and education access.
2. Switzerland (GEI Score: 0.928)
Switzerland ranks second with a GEI score of 0.928. Swiss policies emphasize gender equality in the workplace and political representation. While Switzerland has made significant improvements in addressing pay gaps and supporting women’s rights, the country continues to improve access to childcare and support for working mothers.
Key Strengths:
- Strong emphasis on women’s political representation.
- Advanced healthcare and social security systems.
- Equal pay initiatives and parental leave policies.
3. Sweden (GEI Score: 0.926)
Sweden consistently ranks as one of the best countries for women, achieving a GEI score of 0.926 in 2024. Known for its progressive stance on gender equality, Sweden offers generous parental leave, and subsidized childcare, and has one of the highest rates of female political participation. Gender equality is embedded in Swedish culture, making it a leader in women’s rights.
Key Strengths:
- Comprehensive parental leave and childcare support.
- High political representation of women.
- Equal access to healthcare and education.
4. Finland (GEI Score: 0.924)
Iceland (GEI Score: 0.924)
Luxembourg (GEI Score: 0.924) Finland, Iceland, and Luxembourg share the fourth spot with identical GEI scores of 0.924. Each country boasts progressive policies aimed at eliminating gender disparities in various areas of life.
- Finland: Known for its excellent maternity and paternity leave, Finland emphasizes gender equality in education, offering equal opportunities to women in STEM and other traditionally male-dominated fields.
- Iceland: Iceland has been a trailblazer in achieving near gender parity in political participation and remains a global leader in closing the gender pay gap.
- Luxembourg: Luxembourg excels in promoting equal pay, offering high-quality education, and ensuring women’s representation in both politics and business.
Key Strengths:
- High levels of female participation in the workforce.
- Focus on closing the gender pay gap.
- Advanced social support systems and access to healthcare.
7. Norway (GEI Score: 0.920)
Norway, known for its egalitarian society, ranks seventh with a GEI score of 0.920. The country has robust policies aimed at ensuring gender equality, particularly in the areas of childcare, education, and women’s political representation. Norway is also one of the first countries to implement quotas for women on corporate boards, further advancing gender parity in the workforce.
Key Strengths:
- Equal access to leadership roles in politics and business.
- Generous parental leave policies.
- Comprehensive healthcare and education.
8. Austria (GEI Score: 0.911)
Austria ranks eighth with a GEI score of 0.911. The country has implemented various policies to promote gender equality in the workplace, with a focus on supporting working mothers. Austria also offers excellent healthcare services and has made strides in addressing domestic violence and ensuring women’s safety.
Key Strengths:
- Strong legal protections against gender-based violence.
- Equal opportunities in education and healthcare.
- Policies supporting work-life balance.
9. Netherlands (GEI Score: 0.908)
The Netherlands ranks ninth with a GEI score of 0.908. Known for its progressive views on gender equality, the Netherlands offers strong legal protections for women, equal opportunities in the workforce, and comprehensive healthcare. Dutch society places a high value on work-life balance and policies such as flexible working hours and paid parental leave help to support gender equality.
Key Strengths:
- High female workforce participation.
- Policies promoting gender equality in business and politics.
- Comprehensive healthcare and childcare support.
10. New Zealand (GEI Score: 0.904)
New Zealand rounds out the top ten with a GEI score of 0.904. This has long been a global leader in women’s rights, being the first country to grant women the right to vote. In 2024, New Zealand continues to excel in promoting gender equality, offering equal access to education, strong protections against domestic violence, and significant political representation for women.
Key Strengths:
- High political participation of women.
- Progressive policies addressing domestic violence.
- Equal access to education and healthcare.
10 best countries for women in 2024 based on their Gender-Equality Index (GEI) scores
| Rank | Country | Index Score |
|---|
| 1 | 🇩🇰 Denmark | 0.932 |
| 2 | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 0.928 |
| 3 | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 0.926 |
| 4 | 🇫🇮 Finland | 0.924 |
| 4 | 🇮🇸 Iceland | 0.924 |
| 4 | 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | 0.924 |
| 7 | 🇳🇴 Norway | 0.920 |
| 8 | 🇦🇹 Austria | 0.911 |
| 9 | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 0.908 |
| 10 | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 0.904 |
| Global Average | — | 0.650 |
Global Average (GEI Score: 0.650)
The global average GEI score stands at 0.650, highlighting the disparity between the top-ranking countries and the rest of the world. While these top 10 countries have made significant strides, many countries still struggle with issues such as gender-based violence, unequal pay, and limited access to education and healthcare for women.
Conclusion
The countries topping the Gender Equality Index in 2024 are characterized by strong legal frameworks, progressive policies, and social support systems that promote gender equality across all aspects of life. These nations not only provide women with equal opportunities in education, healthcare, and the workforce but also prioritize work-life balance, parental leave, and protection against gender-based violence. The success of these countries serves as a model for other nations striving to close the gender gap and improve conditions for women around the world. 0104E0
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Access to education and healthcare.
Economic participation and opportunities.
Political representation and leadership roles.
Legal protections against gender-based violence and discrimination.
Denmark is ranked the best country for women in 2024, with a GEI score of 0.932. It is known for its extensive social support systems, including equal access to education, healthcare, and work-life balance policies like generous parental leave.
Finland, Iceland, and Luxembourg all have GEI scores of 0.924 due to their high standards in healthcare, education, and work-life balance. Each country excels in female political representation, equal pay policies, and strong social welfare systems.
Comprehensive social support systems (such as parental leave and childcare).
High female participation in the workforce and politics.
Strong legal frameworks addressing gender-based violence and pay equity.
Equal access to healthcare and education.
The GEI focuses on specific dimensions of gender equality, such as health, education, economic participation, and political empowerment. It provides a holistic view of how well countries are doing in closing the gender gap across multiple sectors, as opposed to focusing solely on one area like economic participation or healthcare.
Work-life balance policies such as paid parental leave and flexible work hours.
Legal frameworks that ensure equal pay and protect against gender-based violence.
Encouragement of female political participation through quotas or incentives.
Comprehensive healthcare systems that address women’s specific health needs.
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