Bangladesh leads South Asia in reducing gender disparity: Report

Bangladesh leads South Asia in reducing gender disparities with the maximum advances being made in the health sector.

News Deskbdnews24.com
Published : 20 Nov 2015, 04:38 AM
Updated : 20 Nov 2015, 02:50 PM

Bangladesh has been ranked 64th this year in an index showing the condition of women in 145 countries. Last year, it was positioned 68th among 142 nations.

The Geneva-based World Economic Forum published ‘The Global Gender Gap Index 2015’ on Wednesday.

The index is benchmarked on national gender gaps on economic, political, education and health criteria and provides country rankings allowing comparisons across regions and income groups.

The current index shows that Bangladesh has not only risen up the tally but has also increased its overall score. Last year, it had a count of 0.697; this year, it has 0.704.

The health sector has made the maximum progress, the index reveals.

Last year, Bangladesh was 122th in the tally for this field. This year, it is ranked 95th, showing a sharp climb of 27 notches with a score of 0.971 for this benchmark.

The country has climbed two rungs up the ladder in respect of women’s literacy and political empowerment.

In women’s enrolment in education, Bangladesh is ranked 109th with a score of 0.948.

Like in last year, it has again topped the world chart in female participation in primary and secondary education.

But in the realm of higher education it has slipped from its last year’s position of 118th to 119th this year.

In case of women’s political empowerment, Bangladesh has risen from its last year’s position of 10th to 8th this year with a score of 0.433.

In women’s economic participation and opportunity, however, Bangladesh has seen a slide, falling two notches to 130 this year.

The study shows Bangladesh’s consistent progress since 2007 in bridging the gender gap.

Its ranking form that year is as follows:

   Year 2007: Rank 100 among 128 countries

   Year 2008: Rank 90 among 130 countries

   Year 2009: Rank 93 among 139 countries

   Year 2010: Rank 82 among 134 countries

   Year 2011: Rank 69 among 135 countries

   Year 2012: Rank 86 among 135 countries

   Year 2013: Rank 75 among 136 countries

   Year 2014: Rank 68 among 142 countries.

Iceland has been ranked 1st for the seventh year in a row.

Norway has moved a step up to the second position this year, while Finland has slipped a notch to the third position.

Sweden, Ireland, Rwanda, the Philippines, Switzerland. Slovenia and New Zealand occupy the fourth to the tenth position in that order.

The ranking of the developed nations are: France (15), UK (18), and US (28).

In South Asia, Sri Lanka, ranked 84, is 16 rungs below Bangladesh.

India, Bhutan and Nepal have progressed this time. India has moved up to 108 from 114; Bhutan to 118 from 120; and Nepal to 110 from 112.

But the Maldives has slumped to 113 from last year’s 105; and Pakistan to 144 from 141.

Yemen lies towards the bottom of the list at 142, behind Pakistan. It is a position Yemen has held for two successive years.

Bangladesh stands way ahead of all Middle Eastern countries and also China (91), Japan (101), Korea (75), Indonesia (92), and Malaysia (111).

The World Economic Report says on the basis of its analysis of past ten years’ data that the world had made little progress in achieving gender parity in matter of employment.

Gender disparities in political empowerment of women and the economic sphere have been reduced by a mere four percent and three percent respectively.

At this rate, the report says, it would take 118 years to bridge the gender gap.