The best and worst places in the world to be a working woman

Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland top the list

As the world sets out to celebrate International Women’s Day tomorrow (March 8), a list has been published revealing where women have the best chances to be treated the same or better than men at work.

While countries like Pakistan, India and Saudi Arabia failed to make it to the list, the Nordic countries – Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland – topped the list.



The 'glass-ceiling index' compiled data on higher educations, level of labour force participation, salary, child-care benefits, maternity rights, business school applications and representation in senior jobs. Paternity rights were also included to draw comparisons between the opportunities and benefits for both genders.

SOURCE: THE ECONOMIST

According to the The Economist, each country's score is a weighted average of its performance on 10 indicators.

Iceland topped the list with a gender wage gap of 14.5%, a total of 44% women on company boards and 16.6 weeks of paid leaves for mothers, while fathers received 8.3 weeks of paid leaves only.

SOURCE: THE ECONOMIST

Further, Finland has the largest share of women who have received higher education compared to men – 49% women in Finland have a tertiary degree and 35% of men.



According to the index, Norway and Iceland also have voluntary political party quotas.

Meanwhile, Japan, Turkey and South Korea secured bottom positions on the list. More men compared to women in these countries have the opportunity to study and hold senior positions at work places.