Ranked: The World’s 20 Best Countries for Women, 2023

There’s an ongoing debate about the relevance of feminism in today’s world, yet the data is clear: there’s still a great need for gender equality. Although some advances have been made regarding voting rights and education, women still face discrimination and violence. Feminism is a movement that strives to eliminate sexism and bring about true gender parity in law and action. Furthermore, studies have revealed that when female involvement in the economy increases, it creates a positive and prosperous outcome.

Economic Impact of Feminism: The economic benefits of feminism are evident in various aspects. Women’s economic empowerment enhances productivity, economic diversification, and income equality. For instance, raising female employment rates in OECD countries to Sweden’s level could boost their cumulative GDP by over $6 trillion. Gender gaps, on the other hand, cost economies about 15% of GDP.

Gender Equality and Growth: Gender equality contributes to economic growth by improving decision-making in business and public administration. Research by the McKinsey Global Institute found that companies with more women in management roles tend to be more profitable. Moreover, women’s participation in society enriches the diversity of ideas, knowledge, and policy priorities, leading to better policy outcomes.

Most Feminist Countries in 2023: To determine the most feminist countries in 2023, a methodology was employed. Data from various sources, including the Global Gender Gap Report, Countries with the Most Gender Equality Index (by U.S. News), World’s Best Countries for Women Index (by CEOWORLD magazine), and Gender Equality in Legal Treatment Index (by the Council on Foreign Relations), were considered. 

1. Sweden: Sweden’s feminist foreign policy, adopted in 2014, set a global precedent. Despite recent changes in leadership, Sweden maintains a high proportion of self-identifying feminists, solidifying its position as a leader in gender equality.
2. New Zealand: New Zealand, the first self-governing nation to grant women the right to vote, continues to champion gender parity in politics. The country requires businesses with over 250 employees to report gender pay gaps, promoting workplace equity.
3. Norway: Norway leads in gender equality, including workplace equity. The government recently mandated large and medium-sized companies to achieve 40% female representation on their boards within five years, a groundbreaking initiative.
4. Denmark: Denmark has a longstanding commitment to gender equality, with generous parental leave and subsidized daycare enabling women to balance work and family. Women hold a substantial presence in the Danish government.
5. Netherlands: The Netherlands implemented a law to enhance diversity on corporate management boards, introducing quotas for gender representation. The law promotes gender diversity at all levels of management.
6. Finland: Finland played a pioneering role in extending universal suffrage to all women and men in 1906. Today, women hold a significant proportion of parliamentary seats and government positions.
7. United Kingdom: The United Kingdom has a long history of supporting gender equality, dating back to granting women the right to vote over a century ago. In 2019, the UK was a major contributor to UN Women.
8. Australia: Australia has made strides in gender equality at workplaces, although challenges remain, with a 14.1% gender pay gap for full-time employees in 2022. The country has committed $65 million for global gender equality initiatives in addition to country-specific efforts.
9. Spain: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez introduced an Equal Representation Law, promoting gender parity in politics, business, and public life. The law applies gender parity measures to electoral lists, corporate boards, and professional associations.
10. Germany: Germany’s Law on Equal Participation of Women and Men in Leadership Positions, effective in 2015, requires women to occupy 30% of seats on supervisory councils in listed companies. The country demonstrates a relatively high level of employment for both men and women.
11. Iceland: Iceland boasts high rates of women’s labor force participation but still faces gender segregation in the labor market. Efforts have narrowed the wage gap, both unadjusted and adjusted, between men and women.
12. Belgium: Belgium implemented a law in 2011 mandating that companies have at least one-third women or men on their boards. This initiative has led to a substantial increase in the proportion of women in corporate leadership roles.
13. Switzerland: In 2021, Switzerland adopted a National Strategy for Gender Equality, aiming to combat discrimination, sexism, and violence by achieving true gender equality by 2030. The strategy focuses on equal participation in economic, family, and social life, ensuring social protection, and eliminating discrimination and violence.
14. Austria: Austria stands among a select group of nations globally that have integrated Gender Budgeting into their constitutions. Gender Budgeting involves analyzing budgets for their impact on women and men and adjusting them to align with gender equality objectives.
15. France: France enacted the Loi Rixain in December 2021, promoting gender equality in the workplace and economy. The law mandates quotas for women’s representation in leadership positions in large corporations. By 2027, at least 30% of managerial positions and governing bodies in such companies must be filled by women, increasing to 40% by 2030.
16. Lithuania: Lithuania’s National Programme on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men takes a comprehensive approach to gender equality. It focuses on various priorities, including equal opportunities in the labor market, gender balance in decision-making, gender mainstreaming, and enhanced management effectiveness.
17. Ireland: Ireland demonstrates a strong commitment to gender equality, evident in its foreign, international development, and domestic policies. Over 46% of Ireland’s bilateral Official Development Assistance is dedicated to addressing gender equality and women’s empowerment.
18. Latvia: Latvia has made substantial progress in gender equality since regaining independence. It joined international organizations like the European Union, emphasizing gender equality. Notably, the pay gap between genders in Latvia reduced from 22.3% in 2020 to 14.2% in 2021. Latvia ranks 19th in our list of the Most Feminist Countries.
19. Luxembourg: Luxembourg stands out in the European Union as the sole state with a dedicated ministry solely responsible for gender equality. Its core mission revolves around achieving legal and factual gender equality. In 2016, Luxembourg incorporated the principle of equal salaries into its legislation, making it illegal to pay different salaries to individuals of equal qualifications performing the same work.
20. Canada: Canada adopts a feminist approach to foreign policy and development. Half of the Canadian workforce comprises women, emphasizing the importance of equal treatment regardless of gender, race, or sexual orientation.

These countries demonstrate commendable efforts in advancing gender equality, with each taking unique steps to address gender disparities and promote diversity in various sectors of society.

Feminism remains a critical movement to combat gender-based discrimination and inequality. Its economic benefits, coupled with ongoing gender disparities, underscore the importance of continued efforts to achieve true gender equality. Moreover, recognizing companies and countries that champion gender equality is a step toward fostering a more inclusive and prosperous world.

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