Israel is ranked 34th in women’s equality in a World Economic Forum (WEF) survey on gender gaps in employment, politics, education and health.
The WEF ranked 115 countries; the higher the ranking, the greater the gender equality. Israel ranking is not particularly flattering. It ranks behind Kazakhstan (30th), Colombia (21st), Sri Lanka (19th), and the Philippines (9th). On the other hand, Israel outranks Namibia (41st), France (68th) and Italy (81st).
Examples of gender gaps in Israel include GDP per capita for men - $25,969, compared with women - $14,159. In top-ranked Norway, GDP per capita for men is $43,148 and for women is $32,272.
14% of MKs in Israel are women, compared with 38% of MPs in Norway and second ranking Finland, 33% in Iceland and 32% in Germany. Fifth-ranked Sweden is the only country in the world where women outnumber men in parliament and government.
71% of Israeli company managers and senior government officials are men. In contrast, in the Philippines, 54% are women and 46% are men.
The global media focused its report on the US, which the WEF ranked 29th in gender equality.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on November 23, 2006
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2006