Women, Business and the Law Index by country
The index measures how laws and regulations affect women’s economic opportunity on a scale from 0 to 100, where 100 means equal legal rights for men and women. It is the average score of eight categories: mobility, workplace, pay, marriage, parenthood, entrepreneurship, assets, and pension.
Countries reporting
188
Highest
100 index (0–100)
Belgium
Lowest
26.25 index (0–100)
Palestine
Median
80.94 index (0–100)
Years covered
54
1970–2023
Data points
10,152
What the numbers show
Women, Business and the Law Index is currently reported for 188 countries. The highest value is 100 index (0–100) in Belgium; the lowest is 26.25 index (0–100) in Palestine.
The median across all reporting countries is 80.94 index (0–100), and the mean is 77.71 index (0–100).
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 4.
Over the past decade 142 countries rose and 2 fell. The largest increase was in United Arab Emirates (up 207.0%), and the largest decrease in Slovakia (down 7.3%).
Women, Business and the Law Index: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belgium | 100 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 1 | Canada | 100 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 2.6% | rising |
| 1 | Germany | 100 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 3.2% | rising |
| 1 | Denmark | 100 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 1 | Spain | 100 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 2.6% | rising |
| 1 | France | 100 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 2.6% | rising |
| 1 | Greece | 100 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 2.6% | rising |
| 1 | Ireland | 100 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 5.3% | rising |
| 1 | Iceland | 100 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 3.2% | rising |
| 1 | Luxembourg | 100 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 2.6% | rising |
| 1 | Latvia | 100 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 2.6% | rising |
| 1 | Netherlands | 100 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 5.3% | rising |
| 1 | Portugal | 100 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 2.6% | rising |
| 1 | Sweden | 100 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 15 | Estonia | 97.5 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 6.8% | rising |
| 15 | Finland | 97.5 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 15 | United Kingdom | 97.5 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 2.6% | rising |
| 15 | Italy | 97.5 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 6.1% | rising |
| 15 | New Zealand | 97.5 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 6.1% | rising |
| 15 | Togo | 97.5 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 19.1% | rising |
| 21 | Australia | 96.88 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 3.3% | rising |
| 21 | Austria | 96.88 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 6.2% | rising |
| 21 | Cyprus | 96.88 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 9.2% | rising |
| 21 | Norway | 96.88 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 21 | Slovenia | 96.88 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 6.9% | rising |
| 26 | Cote d'Ivoire | 95 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 16.9% | rising |
| 26 | Gabon | 95 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 85.4% | rising |
| 26 | Peru | 95 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 2.7% | rising |
| 29 | Paraguay | 94.38 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 2.7% | rising |
| 30 | Czechia | 93.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 2.7% | rising |
| 30 | Croatia | 93.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 30 | Hungary | 93.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 30 | Lithuania | 93.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 30 | Poland | 93.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 11.1% | rising |
| 30 | Serbia | 93.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | down 3.2% | rising |
| 36 | Sierra Leone | 92.5 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 46.5% | rising |
| 37 | Costa Rica | 91.88 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 14.8% | rising |
| 37 | Hong Kong | 91.88 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 5.8% | rising |
| 37 | Rwanda | 91.88 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 26.7% | rising |
| 40 | Albania | 91.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 6.6% | rising |
| 40 | Malta | 91.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 10.6% | rising |
| 40 | United States | 91.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 9.0% | rising |
| 43 | Armenia | 90.62 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 9.8% | rising |
| 43 | Bulgaria | 90.62 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 43 | Moldova | 90.62 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 10.7% | rising |
| 43 | Mongolia | 90.62 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 13.3% | rising |
| 43 | Romania | 90.62 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 48 | Ecuador | 89.38 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 5.9% | rising |
| 48 | Mauritius | 89.38 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 6.7% | rising |
| 50 | Bolivia | 88.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 15.4% | rising |
| 50 | Mexico | 88.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 3.6% | rising |
| 50 | El Salvador | 88.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 6.0% | rising |
| 50 | Uruguay | 88.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 6.8% | rising |
| 54 | Switzerland | 88.12 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 2.9% | rising |
| 54 | Georgia | 88.12 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 11.0% | rising |
| 54 | South Korea | 88.12 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 3.7% | rising |
| 54 | Vietnam | 88.12 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 11.0% | rising |
| 54 | South Africa | 88.12 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 7.6% | rising |
| 59 | Slovakia | 87.5 index (0–100) | 2023 | down 7.3% | rising |
| 60 | Guyana | 86.88 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 60 | Zimbabwe | 86.88 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 62 | Cape Verde | 86.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 62 | Dominican Republic | 86.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 10.4% | rising |
| 62 | Nicaragua | 86.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 19.0% | rising |
| 62 | East Timor | 86.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 7.0% | rising |
| 66 | Laos | 85.62 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 3.0% | rising |
| 67 | Azerbaijan | 85 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 7.9% | rising |
| 67 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 85 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 3.8% | rising |
| 67 | Brazil | 85 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 3.8% | rising |
| 67 | North Macedonia | 85 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 3.0% | rising |
| 67 | Montenegro | 85 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 7.9% | rising |
| 67 | San Marino | 85 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 6.2% | rising |
| 67 | Ukraine | 85 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 7.9% | rising |
| 67 | Venezuela | 85 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 3.0% | rising |
| 75 | Colombia | 84.38 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 7.1% | rising |
| 76 | Benin | 83.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 12.6% | rising |
| 76 | Kenya | 83.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 6.3% | rising |
| 76 | Saint Lucia | 83.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 76 | Puerto Rico | 83.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 3.1% | rising |
| 76 | Uganda | 83.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 19.6% | rising |
| 81 | Sao Tome and Principe | 83.12 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 33.0% | rising |
| 82 | United Arab Emirates | 82.5 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 207.0% | volatile |
| 82 | Burkina Faso | 82.5 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 7.3% | rising |
| 82 | Belize | 82.5 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 3.9% | rising |
| 82 | Fiji | 82.5 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 10.9% | rising |
| 82 | Mozambique | 82.5 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 3.9% | rising |
| 82 | Singapore | 82.5 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 15.8% | rising |
| 82 | Turkey | 82.5 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 3.1% | rising |
| 82 | Uzbekistan | 82.5 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 28.2% | rising |
| 90 | Bahamas | 81.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 90 | Cambodia | 81.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 8.3% | rising |
| 90 | Liberia | 81.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 27.5% | rising |
| 90 | Tanzania | 81.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 90 | Zambia | 81.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 28.7% | rising |
| 95 | Grenada | 80.62 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 4.0% | rising |
| 95 | Israel | 80.62 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 95 | Lesotho | 80.62 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 3.2% | rising |
| 95 | Nepal | 80.62 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 63.3% | rising |
| 99 | Barbados | 80 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 13.3% | rising |
| 99 | Chile | 80 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 3.2% | rising |
| 99 | Ethiopia | 80 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 11.3% | rising |
| 99 | Malawi | 80 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 6.7% | rising |
| 99 | Namibia | 80 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 104 | Angola | 79.38 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 12.4% | rising |
| 104 | Argentina | 79.38 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 8.5% | rising |
| 104 | Panama | 79.38 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 7.6% | rising |
| 107 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 78.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 85.3% | rising |
| 107 | Japan | 78.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 107 | Philippines | 78.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 107 | Tajikistan | 78.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 4.1% | rising |
| 111 | China | 78.12 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 3.3% | rising |
| 111 | Thailand | 78.12 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 4.2% | rising |
| 113 | Central African Republic | 77.5 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 114 | Kyrgyzstan | 76.88 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 114 | Suriname | 76.88 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 21.8% | rising |
| 116 | Burundi | 76.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 4.3% | rising |
| 116 | Kiribati | 76.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 29.8% | rising |
| 116 | Seychelles | 76.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 3.4% | rising |
| 119 | Belarus | 75.62 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 3.4% | rising |
| 119 | Kazakhstan | 75.62 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 4.3% | rising |
| 119 | Morocco | 75.62 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 3.4% | rising |
| 122 | Bhutan | 75 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 122 | Ghana | 75 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 122 | Honduras | 75 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 122 | Trinidad and Tobago | 75 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 122 | Samoa | 75 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 127 | India | 74.38 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 12.3% | rising |
| 127 | Jamaica | 74.38 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 20.2% | rising |
| 129 | Guinea | 73.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 57.3% | rising |
| 129 | Guatemala | 73.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 129 | Maldives | 73.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 14.6% | rising |
| 132 | Russia | 73.12 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 133 | Senegal | 72.5 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 13.7% | rising |
| 134 | Djibouti | 71.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 14.0% | rising |
| 134 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 71.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 134 | Saudi Arabia | 71.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 142.6% | rising |
| 137 | Indonesia | 70.62 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 9.7% | rising |
| 138 | Eritrea | 69.38 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 138 | Gambia | 69.38 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 3.7% | rising |
| 138 | Madagascar | 69.38 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 14.4% | rising |
| 141 | Antigua and Barbuda | 68.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 3.8% | rising |
| 142 | Bahrain | 68.12 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 94.6% | rising |
| 142 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 68.12 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 144 | South Sudan | 67.5 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 36.7% | rising |
| 145 | Nigeria | 66.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 5.0% | rising |
| 145 | Chad | 66.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 15.2% | rising |
| 147 | Sri Lanka | 65.62 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 4.0% | rising |
| 147 | Marshall Islands | 65.62 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 16.7% | rising |
| 149 | Comoros | 65 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 15.6% | rising |
| 150 | Tunisia | 64.38 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 15.7% | rising |
| 151 | Botswana | 63.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 151 | Mali | 63.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 17.2% | rising |
| 153 | Dominica | 62.5 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 154 | Micronesia (country) | 61.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 4.3% | flat |
| 154 | Haiti | 61.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 4.3% | rising |
| 156 | Malaysia | 60.62 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 21.2% | rising |
| 157 | Cameroon | 60 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 18.5% | rising |
| 157 | Papua New Guinea | 60 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 4.3% | rising |
| 159 | Jordan | 59.38 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 86.3% | rising |
| 160 | Lebanon | 58.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 17.5% | rising |
| 160 | Myanmar | 58.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 160 | Pakistan | 58.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 25.3% | rising |
| 160 | Tonga | 58.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 4.4% | rising |
| 164 | Congo | 58.12 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 17.7% | rising |
| 164 | Equatorial Guinea | 58.12 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 12.0% | rising |
| 166 | Algeria | 57.5 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 4.5% | rising |
| 167 | Solomon Islands | 56.88 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 4.6% | rising |
| 168 | Palau | 56.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 169 | Vanuatu | 55.62 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 170 | Niger | 53.75 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 171 | Brunei | 53.12 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 172 | Guinea-Bissau | 51.88 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 38.3% | rising |
| 173 | Egypt | 50.62 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 30.6% | rising |
| 174 | Libya | 50 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 175 | Bangladesh | 49.38 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 176 | Iraq | 48.12 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 45.3% | rising |
| 176 | Mauritania | 48.12 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 14.9% | rising |
| 178 | Somalia | 46.88 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 179 | Oman | 46.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 42.3% | rising |
| 179 | Eswatini | 46.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 5.7% | rising |
| 181 | Syria | 40 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 16.4% | rising |
| 182 | Kuwait | 38.12 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 29.8% | rising |
| 183 | Qatar | 35.62 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 21.3% | flat |
| 184 | Sudan | 32.5 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 10.6% | rising |
| 185 | Afghanistan | 31.88 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 10.9% | rising |
| 186 | Iran | 31.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | up 8.7% | flat |
| 187 | Yemen | 26.88 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 188 | Palestine | 26.25 index (0–100) | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
About this data
The index measures how laws and regulations affect women’s economic opportunity on a scale from 0 to 100, where 100 means equal legal rights for men and women. It is the average score of eight categories: mobility, workplace, pay, marriage, parenthood, entrepreneurship, assets, and pension.