Statistics from the 2007 Gender Gap Index have placed Iceland as one of the world’s most gender equal countries.
The index, which was recently published by the World Economic Forum, saw the Nordic countries as a group come out on top. Sweden was placed first as the country with the least differences between the sexes, whilst Norway, Finland and Iceland came next.
New Zealand not only improved its index rating this year but it was also placed just behind Iceland in the world rankings. Australia, on the other hand, was placed 17th and the United States ranked 31st.
The index uses statistics in four areas to quantitatively measure the differences between men and women in countries around the globe. Economic participation of both sexes are considered, as are the differences in education, political empowerment and health.
Economically, the index looks at everything from salaries to access to senior level employment. More basic considerations are also factored into the final analysis which include life expectancy and a country’s sex ratios.