Nicaragua number six in gender equality in the world

MANAGUA, Nicaragua - Oct. 28, 2014 - PRLog -- In the 2014 Global Gender Gap Report, published today by the World Economic Forum, Nicaragua is ranked 6^th out of the 142 countries measured with a score of 78.94 percent out of a possible 100 (which stands for total gender equality). Nicaragua has remained in the top 10 for the third consecutive year now, advancing 4 positions from the last report.

According to this year’s report, the country’s key strengths are on the Educational Attainment sub-index, where it has closed 99.96 percent of the gender gap, and Health and Survival, where it closed the gender gap fully. Nicaragua has also closed 54 percent of the gender gap on Political Empowerment, which given low global standards, places it in the 4^th position out of the 142 countries this year, only behind Iceland, Finland and Norway.

Ranked 6^th, Nicaragua is the best performer in Latin America and the Caribbean and the only country in the region to make it into the top 10. The country is also the best performer among the lower-middle income economies group, composed of 34 countries.

Since 2006, Nicaragua has recorded the highest improvement worldwide to date (20 percent), having now closed 79 percent of its gender gap. Last year, the country was ranked 10^th with a score of 77.15 percent.

According to the report, being one of the 10 most advanced countries in the world in terms of gender equality comes from the returns of investment in women’s health and education. Also, a country among the top 10 is one where women enjoy the most equal access to education and healthcare and are most likely to be able to participate fully in the country’s political and economic life.

The Global Gender Gap Report ranks 142 countries on the gap between women and men on health, education, economic and political indicators. It aims to understand whether countries are distributing their resources and opportunities equitably between women and men, irrespective of their overall income levels. The report has been published since 2006 and no country has yet achieved total gender equality (an overall score of 100 percent).