30 most and least gender-friendly countries

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

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

Click NEXT to see rest of the countries...

30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Image: The erupting Geysir in Haukadalur valley, the oldest known geyser in the world.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

Image: Reine in Lofoten, Northern Norway.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

...

30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Image: Headquarters of Nokia, the largest Finnish company.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

Image: Stockholm Palace, the official seat of the Swedish King.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

Image: The red deer, Ireland's largest wild mammal in Killarney National Park.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

...

30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Image: New Zealand government Beehive and the Parliament Buildings, in Wellington.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

...

30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Image: Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

...

30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Image: A jeepney and a bus, common forms of public transport in the Philippines.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

Image: Landscape of Lesotho.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

...

30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Image: Alphorn concert in Vals.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

Image: Panorama of Munich.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

Image: Madrid: Cuatro Torres Business Area.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

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

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

...

30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Image: The Union Buildings in Pretoria, seat of the executive.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

...

Here's how 30 countries rank in gender equality

Image: The Cube Houses in Rotterdam.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

Image: London is one of the largest financial centres in the world.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

Image: Skyline of downtown Boston's Financial District, seen from inner Boston Harbor.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

Image: Montreal.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

...

30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Image: Latvian country scenery in Sabile.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

...

30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Image: Garcia Lorca Theater in Havana.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

Image: Parlatuvier Bay, a popular tourist destination in Tobago.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

Image: Junkanoo celebration in Nassau.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

Image: Sydney opera house and skyline.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

Image: A group of Burundian women rearing goats.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

Image: Poas Volcano Crater is one of the country's main tourist attractions.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

...

30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Image: Mount Murresse and tea plantations near Gurue, Zambezia Province, northern Mozambique.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

...

30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Image: Corn Island.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

...

30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Image: Nanjing Road, a major shopping street in Shanghai.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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

...

30 most and least gender-friendly countries

Image: The Makran Coastal Highway starts from Karachi and goes all the way to Gwadar.
Photographs: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons

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