The Global Gender Gap report 2021 of the World Economic Forum disclosed that Iceland is the most gender-equal country in the world. Iceland has been ranked as the most Gender Equal country since 2009. It got the first place for political empowerment.
Currently, in Iceland more than 40% of the parliamentarians are women. The second female Prime Minister of Iceland is Katrín Jakobsdóttir, after Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir in 2019. Jakobsdóttir was chosen as the Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders on 19 February last year.
Furthermore, it got the fourth rank in economic participation and opportunity. Iceland ranked 127th in Health and Survival. Women Political Leaders disclosed that Icelandic women started joining the labor market at a higher rate in the 1970s.
As per the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th positions claimed by the countries in Gender Gap are Finland, Norway, and New Zealand, respectively. On the other hand, Pakistan placed 153 positions in the Gender Gap index which got 152 and 144 in Economic Participation and Opportunity and Educational Attainment, respectively.
Saadia Zahidi, World Economic Forum Managing Director commented that the ongoing pandemic has badly affected gender equality both in-home and workplace. It is essential for females to be represented in the jobs of tomorrow if we want a dynamic future economy.
Now, more than ever, it is important to focus leadership attention, vow to firm goals, and mobilize resources. This is the time to secure gender equality by design into the improvement.