The World Economic Forum has announced that four Nordic nations topped the survey of 130 countries closing the gender gap. Norway tops the list, followed by Finland, Sweden, and Iceland, in descending order. New Zealand completes the top five list. Norway placed 3rd last year and advanced to the top this year with a score of 82.45 percent. Sweden was number one last year, but fell to 3rd place this year. The UK slipped from 11th last year to 13th this year. France leaped up on the list, from 51st last year to 15th this year. The survey is a collaboration among the World Economic Forum, Harvard University, and University of California, Berkeley.

The survey measured the economic participation of women, a basic gender equality benchmark. From economic empowerment and participation towards sustainable development spring other corollary indications such as educational attainment, political empowerment, health, and survival. The survey produced the logical insight that closing the gender gap translates to economic performance of countries. After all, women are half of the world’s population. Leaving them behind is tantamount to 50 percent handicap in a country’s potential.

The countries at the bottom of the list are proof that gender inequality leads to economic unsustainability because women are not allowed to participate in economic and political undertakings. With the exception of Saudi Arabia, a rich country because of its huge oil reserves, the other four bottom countries on the Gender Gap Index are Benin, Pakistan, Chad, and Yemen. Syria, Ethiopia, and Saudi Arabia all fell in ranking this year. The proof is real: if women are not treated as equals, the country’s economic performance teeters on the brink.

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Via BBC