SAEDNEWS: Denmark ranks first in a global assessment of women’s wellbeing, while Afghanistan sits at the bottom. The rankings highlight major differences in inclusion, justice, security, economic opportunity and exposure to conflict.
According to SaedNews: Where a woman lives can make a significant difference to her rights, security and opportunities. Women account for just under half of the world’s population, according to United Nations and World Bank data, although their share differs considerably between countries. In Saudi Arabia, women represent 39.57% of the population, compared with 53.63% in Russia.
Women’s rights also vary according to conditions within individual countries, including access to justice, security and inclusion. Data analyzed by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security was used to identify the countries offering the strongest and weakest conditions for women.
Denmark occupies the top position, followed by several Scandinavian countries and neighboring nations. The Georgetown University report found that the highest-ranked countries performed strongly across measures of women’s inclusion, justice and security.
Women in these countries generally benefited from high education levels, access to financial services, participation in the workforce, legal safeguards and political representation. They also recorded comparatively low levels of violence against women.
Latin American countries performed better than in previous years. Costa Rica and Uruguay, for example, reached the top 25% of the countries surveyed, although neither entered the top 10. European countries continued to dominate the highest positions.
The 10 highest-ranked countries for women’s wellbeing are:
Denmark
Iceland
Norway
Sweden
Finland
Luxembourg
Belgium
Netherlands
Austria
New Zealand
At the other end of the ranking, the countries facing the greatest challenges for women tend to experience political instability or armed conflict. More than 70% of women living in the 12 lowest-ranked countries are located within about 30 miles (50 kilometers) of armed conflict. Such conditions can increase exposure to gender-based violence and injustice while worsening problems connected to maternal health.
Afghanistan ranks last in Georgetown University’s assessment, which considers justice, security, stability and inclusion. The country has experienced armed conflict and political struggles in recent years, alongside a reduction in women’s rights. Syria, Yemen and Sudan are also among the 10 lowest-ranked countries.
The 10 worst countries for women are:
Afghanistan
Yemen
Central African Republic
Syria
Sudan
Haiti
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Burundi
South Sudan
Myanmar
The United States ranks 31st among 181 countries, placing it below Serbia and Malta but above Czechia and Hungary. Canada ranks 16th, while Mexico is 147th.
Countries that perform better than others, including the U.S., have policies supporting women through economic opportunities, legal protections, healthcare and comparatively lower levels of violence.
