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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

The Taj Mahal was built in Agra by Shah Jahan, a Mughal emperor, as a memorial to his deceased wife Mumtaz Mahal.

Over the past six years, while 85 per cent of countries have improved their gender equality ratios, for the rest of the world the situation is getting worse, most notably in African and South American countries.

The sixth annual World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2011 shows a slight decline over the past year in gender equality rankings for many countries.

The report assesses 135 countries, representing more than 93 per cent of the world's population, on how well resources and opportunities are divided among male and female populations.

The report measures the size of the gender inequality gap in four areas:

Economic participation and opportunity - salaries, participation and highly-skilled employment

Education - access to basic and higher level education

Political empowerment - representation in decision-making structures

Health and survival - life expectancy and sex ratio

Let us have a look at 30 countries, starting with India, and see how well or badly they are doing when it comes to gender gap.

India

Rank in 2011: 113

Score in 2011: 0.6190

Rank in 2010: 112

Score in 2010: 0.6155

Rank in 2009: 114

Score in 2009: 0.6151

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

The erupting Geysir in Haukadalur valley, the oldest known geyser in the world.

Iceland

Rank in 2011: 1

Score in 2011: 0.8530

Rank in 2010: 1

Score in 2010: 0.8496

Rank in 2009: 1

Score in 2009: 0.8276

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

Norway

Rank in 2011: 2

Score in 2011: 0.8404

Rank in 2010: 2

Score in 2010: 0.8404

Rank in 2009: 3

Score in 2009: 0.8227

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

Headquarters of Nokia, the largest Finnish company.

Finland

Rank in 2011: 3

Score in 2011: 0.8383

Rank in 2010: 3

Score in 2010: 0.8260

Rank in 2009: 2

Score in 2009: 0.8252

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

Stockholm Palace, the official seat of the Swedish King.

Sweden

Rank in 2011: 4

Score in 2011: 0.8044

Rank in 2010: 4

Score in 2010: 0.8024

Rank in 2009: 4

Score in 2009: 0.8139

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

Ireland

Rank in 2011: 5

Score in 2011: 0.7830

Rank in 2010: 6

Score in 2010: 0.7773

Rank in 2009: 8

Score in 2009: 0.7597

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

New Zealand

Rank in 2011: 6

Score in 2011: 0.7810

Rank in 2010: 5

Score in 2010: 0.7808

Rank in 2009: 5

Score in 2009: 0.7880

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

Denmark

Rank in 2011: 7

Score in 2011: 0.7778

Rank in 2010: 7

Score in 2010: 0.7719

Rank in 2009: 7

Score in 2009: 0.7628

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

The Philippines

Rank in 2011: 8

Score in 2011: 0.7685

Rank in 2010: 9

Score in 2010: 0.7654

Rank in 2009: 9

Score in 2009: 0.7579

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

Lesotho

Rank in 2011: 9

Score in 2011: 0.7666

Rank in 2010: 8

Score in 2010: 0.7678

Rank in 2009: 10

Score in 2009: 0.7495

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

Switzerland

Rank in 2011: 10

Score in 2011: 0.7627

Rank in 2010: 10

Score in 2010: 0.7562

Rank in 2009: 13

Score in 2009: 0.7426

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

Germany

Rank in 2011: 11

Score in 2011: 0.7590

Rank in 2010: 11

Score in 2010: 0.7530

Rank in 2009: 12

Score in 2009: 0.7449

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

Spain

Rank in 2011: 12

Score in 2011: 0.7580

Rank in 2010: 11

Score in 2010: 0.7554

Rank in 2009: 17

Score in 2009: 0.7345

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

Belgian shrimp fisherman Maurius rides a carthorse to haul a net out of the sea after catching shrimp in Oostduinkerke.

Belgium

Rank in 2011: 13

Score in 2011: 0.7531

Rank in 2010: 14

Score in 2010: 0.7509

Rank in 2009: 33

Score in 2009: 0.7165

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

The Union Buildings in Pretoria, seat of the executive.

South Africa

Rank in 2011: 14

Score in 2011: 0.7478

Rank in 2010: 12

Score in 2010: 0.7535

Rank in 2009: 6

Score in 2009: 0.7709

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Here's how 30 countries rank in gender equality

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

The Netherlands

Rank in 2011: 15

Score in 2011: 0.7470

Rank in 2010: 17

Score in 2010: 0.7444

Rank in 2009: 11

Score in 2009: 0.7490

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

London is one of the largest financial centres in the world.

The United Kingdom

Rank in 2011: 16

Score in 2011: 0.7462

Rank in 2010: 15

Score in 2010: 0.7460

Rank in 2009: 15

Score in 2009: 0.7402

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

Skyline of downtown Boston's Financial District, seen from inner Boston Harbor.

The United States

Rank in 2011: 17

Score in 2011: 0.7412

Rank in 2010: 19

Score in 2010: 0.7411

Rank in 2009: 31

Score in 2009: 0.7173

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

Canada

Rank in 2011: 18

Score in 2011: 0.7407

Rank in 2010: 20

Score in 2010: 0.7372

Rank in 2009: 25

Score in 2009: 0.7196

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

Latvia

Rank in 2011: 19

Score in 2011: 0.7407

Rank in 2010: 18

Score in 2010: 0.7372

Rank in 2009: 14

Score in 2009: 0.7196

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

Cuba

Rank in 2011: 20

Score in 2011: 0.7394

Rank in 2010: 24

Score in 2010: 0.7253

Rank in 2009: 29

Score in 2009: 0.7176

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

Parlatuvier Bay, a popular tourist destination in Tobago.

Trinidad and Tobago

Rank in 2011: 21

Score in 2011: 0.7372

Rank in 2010: 21

Score in 2010: 0.7353

Rank in 2009: 19

Score in 2009: 0.7298

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

Bahamas

Rank in 2011: 22

Score in 2011: 0.7340

Rank in 2010: 36

Score in 2010: 0.7128

Rank in 2009: 28

Score in 2009: 0.7179

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

Australia

Rank in 2011: 23

Score in 2011: 0.7291

Rank in 2010: 23

Score in 2010: 0.7271

Rank in 2009: 20

Score in 2009: 0.7282

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

Burundi

Rank in 2011: 24

Score in 2011: 0.7270

Rank in 2010: Not available

Score in 2010: Not available

Rank in 2009: Not available

Score in 2009: Not available

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

Poas Volcano Crater is one of the country's main tourist attractions.

Costa Rica

Rank in 2011: 25

Score in 2011: 0.7270

Rank in 2010: 28

Score in 2010: 0.7266

Rank in 2009: 27

Score in 2009: 0.7194

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

Mozambique

Rank in 2011: 26

Score in 2011: 0.7251

Rank in 2010: 22

Score in 2010: 0.7329

Rank in 2009: 26

Score in 2009: 0.7195

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

Nicaragua

Rank in 2011: 27

Score in 2011: 0.7245

Rank in 2010: 30

Score in 2010: 0.7176

Rank in 2009: 49

Score in 2009: 0.7002

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

Nanjing Road, a major shopping street in Shanghai.

China

Rank in 2011: 61

Score in 2011: 0.6866

Rank in 2010: 60

Score in 2010: 0.6881

Rank in 2009: 61

Score in 2009: 0.6907

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30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Last updated on: November 3, 2011 16:50 IST

The Makran Coastal Highway starts from Karachi and goes all the way to Gwadar.

Pakistan

Rank in 2011: 133

Score in 2011: 0.5583

Rank in 2010: 132

Score in 2010: 0.5465

Rank in 2009: 132

Score in 2009: 0.5458