30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: The Taj Mahal was built in Agra by Shah Jahan, a Mughal emperor, as a memorial to his deceased wife Mumtaz Mahal.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: The erupting Geysir in Haukadalur valley, the oldest known geyser in the world.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: Reine in Lofoten, Northern Norway.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: Headquarters of Nokia, the largest Finnish company.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: Stockholm Palace, the official seat of the Swedish King.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: The red deer, Ireland's largest wild mammal in Killarney National Park.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: New Zealand government Beehive and the Parliament Buildings, in Wellington.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: A jeepney and a bus, common forms of public transport in the Philippines.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: Landscape of Lesotho.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: Alphorn concert in Vals.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: Panorama of Munich.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: Madrid: Cuatro Torres Business Area.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: Belgian shrimp fisherman Maurius rides a carthorse to haul a net out of the sea after catching shrimp in Oostduinkerke.
Photographs: Yves Herman/Reuters
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: The Union Buildings in Pretoria, seat of the executive.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
Here's how 30 countries rank in gender equality
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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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Image: The Cube Houses in Rotterdam.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: London is one of the largest financial centres in the world.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: Skyline of downtown Boston's Financial District, seen from inner Boston Harbor.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: Montreal.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: Latvian country scenery in Sabile.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: Garcia Lorca Theater in Havana.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: Parlatuvier Bay, a popular tourist destination in Tobago.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: Junkanoo celebration in Nassau.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: Sydney opera house and skyline.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: A group of Burundian women rearing goats.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: Poas Volcano Crater is one of the country's main tourist attractions.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: Mount Murresse and tea plantations near Gurue, Zambezia Province, northern Mozambique.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: Corn Island.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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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Image: Nanjing Road, a major shopping street in Shanghai.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
30 most and least gender-friendly countries
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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
Image: The Makran Coastal Highway starts from Karachi and goes all the way to Gwadar.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
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