Nigeria is notably absent as Namibia and South Africa secure the first and second positions, respectively, in the 2024 top 10 best African countries for women, as revealed by the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index.
Mozambique ranked third, with Burundi and Rwanda taking the fourth and fifth spots, respectively, reflecting a trend where most Southern and Eastern African nations dominate the list.
Recent years have seen some African countries make significant strides in bridging the gender gap, heralding an era of empowerment and progress for women.
This shift is attributed to concerted efforts across various sectors, including economics, health, education, and politics.
While certain African communities continue to grapple with severe gender equality issues, it’s undeniable that others have achieved remarkable progress in ensuring women’s proper representation.
The journey toward gender equality in Africa stands as a testament to women’s resilience and determination, coupled with the collective efforts of societies striving for change.
Despite numerous challenges, the progress achieved so far provides a beacon of hope.
Women have made considerable advancements in all spheres of African society, with their participation increasing in politics, economics, entertainment, and nearly every other imaginable field.
Political representation for women has notably surged, with several African nations leading the way in governance gender equality.
Additionally, rising literacy rates among young women have created a ripple effect of empowerment that extends to their families and communities.
This trajectory suggests that Africa is steadily moving toward closing the gender gap, though some communities still face significant gender equality challenges.
The Global Gender Gap 2024 Insight report by the World Economic Forum highlights countries that have made substantial progress in narrowing the gender gap within a year, with Sierra Leone being a prominent example.
“The 2024 index also shows important changes in ranking. The five economies that improved their rankings the most climbed over 20 places: Ecuador (+34, ranked 16th), Sierra Leone (+32, ranked 80th), Guatemala (+24, ranked 93rd), Cyprus (+22, ranked 84th), and Romania and Greece (+20, ranked 68th and 73rd, respectively),” the report revealed.
“The most significant drops in the ranking are also negative shifts of over 20 places: Bangladesh (-40, ranked 99th), Lao PDR (-35, ranked 89th), El Salvador (-28, ranked 96th), Rwanda (-27, ranked 39th), and Bhutan (-21, ranked 124th),” it added.
Here is the full list of the top 10 African countries with the best gender gap index:
1. Namibia – 0.805 (Global rank: 8th)
2. South Africa – 0.785 (Global rank: 18th)
3. Mozambique – 0.776 (Global rank: 27th)
4. Burundi – 0.757 (Global rank: 38th)
5. Rwanda – 0.757 (Global rank: 39th)
6. Cape Verde – 0.755 (Global rank: 41st)
7. Liberia – 0.754 (Global rank: 42nd)
8. Eswatini – 0.744 (Global rank: 47th)
9. Zimbabwe – 0.740 (Global rank: 52nd)
10. Botswana – 0.730 (Global rank: 57th)
