Our attitude to gender equality ranks us among the top countries in the world.
New Zealand has moved up a notch on the top 10 rankings list of the world’s best countries for gender equality, a new report has revealed.
In 2015, New Zealand ranked at 10th position, this year we’ve come in at 9th.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently released their 2016 Global Gender Gap Report, which ranks 145 countries on gender equality.
To do this, they looked at how well each country was leveraging their female talent pool, based on economic, educational, health-based and political indicators.
The global index puts New Zealand streets ahead of the United Kingdom, which comes in at 20, and more worryingly the United States, which is currently sitting at 45th.
Iceland took out the top spot – again. The Nordic country continues to lead the way politically with an all-female political party as well as a parliament that’s almost 50% female MPs.
And socially: the country’s maternity polices also places it well ahead of the divide, with policies allowing for both parents to take three months paid leave.
If the leave isn’t used, it can’t be transferred so more working fathers are taking up their paternal leave, meaning women are able to return to work sooner and to their pre-birth working hours faster.
Tracking behind Iceland is Norway, Finland and Sweden.
The report shows New Zealand increased its ranking because more women are active in the workforce.
New Zealand was among three of the only non-European countries to make the list.
The 10 best countries for gender equality:
1. Iceland
2. Finland
3. Norway
4. Sweden
5. Rwanda
6. Ireland
7. Philippines
8. Slovenia
9. New Zealand
10. Nicaragua
