The State Of Gender Equality Around The Globe, In 7 Charts

Being a woman in 2016 is an occasion for celebration -- and for outrage.
Who run the world?
Who run the world?
Getty/HuffPost

International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate women and their many accomplishments, but also shine a light on the deep gender gap that persists in every corner of the globe. That’s why the theme for 2016 is gender parity, and the pressing need to affect change in the many, many places around the globe where forward momentum has stalled or stopped altogether.

Because the stark fact is that women lag behind men in just about every aspect of equality, from restrictive social and cultural norms, to important economic and political measures. And no country is immune.

Here are seven charts that show why being a woman in 2016 is an occasion for celebration, and for outrage:

Gender inequality index

This index measures the inequality between men and women in three ways:

reproductive health, political empowerment and labor market participation

More inequality

Less inequality

No data

Gender inequality index

This index measures the inequality between men and women in three ways: reproductive health, political empowerment and labor market participation

More inequality

Less inequality

No data

These charts show the twenty largest countries by population. Countries in green have the most equitable for this group, while countries in purple have the least.

Women In Politics

Women are chronically underrepresented in politics, which means far too few have the power to create laws and policies that shape daily life. When women have equitable political power, conversations about women’s rights take on a different tone, and sexism in laws and government is more likely to get called out. As Senator Elizabeth Warren has said, "If you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re probably on the menu."

Women in national parliaments

Women in ministerial level positions

Seats held by women, as a proportion of all seats

Proportion of all positions

China

China

23.6

 

11.5

India

22.2

India

12.0

 

United States

26.1

19.4

United States

Indonesia

22.9

Indonesia

17.1

Brazil

Brazil

15.4

9.9

Pakistan

0

Pakistan

20.7

Nigeria

24.1

Nigeria

5.6

Bangladesh

6.7

20.0

Bangladesh

Russia

6.5

Russia

13.6

Japan

22.2

Japan

9.5

Mexico

17.6

Mexico

38.0

Philippines

20

Philippines

27.2

12.5

Ethiopia

Ethiopia

No data available

33.3

Germany

Germany

36.5

9.1

Vietnam

Vietnam

24.3

11.8

Egypt

Egypt

No data available

8.1

Dem. Rep. of Congo

Dem. Rep. of Congo

8.9

10.0

Iran

Iran

3.1

4.0

Turkey

14.4

Turkey

4.2

Thailand

Thailand

6.1

Women in national parliaments

Seats held by women, as a proportion

of all seats

China

23.6

 

India

12.0

 

19.4

United States

Indonesia

17.1

Brazil

9.9

Pakistan

20.7

Nigeria

5.6

20.0

Bangladesh

Russia

13.6

Japan

9.5

Mexico

38.0

Philippines

27.2

Ethiopia

No data available

Germany

36.5

Vietnam

24.3

Egypt

No data available

Dem. Rep. of Congo

8.9

Iran

3.1

14.4

Turkey

Thailand

6.1

Women in ministerial level positions

Proportion of all positions

China

11.5

India

22.2

United States

26.1

Indonesia

22.9

Brazil

15.4

Pakistan

0

Nigeria

24.1

Bangladesh

6.7

Russia

6.5

Japan

22.2

Mexico

17.6

Philippines

20

12.5

Ethiopia

33.3

Germany

9.1

Vietnam

11.8

Egypt

8.1

Dem. Rep. of Congo

10.0

Iran

4.0

Turkey

4.2

Thailand

Women's Economic Security

When women work, economies grow. And when women have the power to save and manage their earnings, they have much more agency in their own lives. Empowering women economically means valuing the work women already do, and giving them the opportunities they need to expand their role in the global workforce.

Female labor participation

Women with bank accounts

Labor participation rate among females, age 15 or older

Percent of female population, age 15 or older, with account at a financial institution

64.0

China

China

76.4

42.6

27.0

India

India

94.8

United States

United States

56.3

37.2

Indonesia

Indonesia

51.4

64.8

Brazil

Brazil

59.4

Pakistan

Pakistan

3.0

24.8

33.6

Nigeria

Nigeria

48.3

25.2

57.6

Bangladesh

Bangladesh

70.2

57.1

Russia

Russia

48.7

Japan

Japan

97.0

45.1

38.8

Mexico

Mexico

33.9

Philippines

Philippines

51.1

21.0

Ethiopia

Ethiopia

78.3

99.4

Germany

Germany

53.7

31.9

Vietnam

Vietnam

73.2

9.2

Egypt

Egypt

23.8

Dem. Rep. of Congo

Dem. Rep. of Congo

70.7

8.5

87.1

Iran

Iran

16.7

44.3

Turkey

Turkey

29.3

75.4

Thailand

Thailand

64.2

Female labor participation

Labor participation rate among

females, age 15 or older

64.0

China

27.0

India

United States

56.3

Indonesia

51.4

Brazil

59.4

Pakistan

24.8

Nigeria

48.3

57.6

Bangladesh

57.1

Russia

48.7

Japan

45.1

Mexico

Philippines

51.1

Ethiopia

78.3

Germany

53.7

Vietnam

73.2

Egypt

23.8

Dem. Rep. of Congo

70.7

Iran

16.7

Turkey

29.3

Thailand

64.2

Women with bank accounts

Percent of female population, age 15 or older, with account at a financial institution

China

76.4

42.6

India

94.8

United States

37.2

Indonesia

64.8

Brazil

3.0

Pakistan

33.6

Nigeria

25.2

Bangladesh

70.2

Russia

Japan

97.0

38.8

Mexico

33.9

Philippines

21.0

Ethiopia

99.4

Germany

31.9

Vietnam

9.2

Egypt

Dem. Rep. of Congo

8.5

87.1

Iran

44.3

Turkey

75.4

Thailand

Women's Health

Despite the fact that maternal deaths are largely preventable, thousands upon thousands of women die every year delivering babies, largely in developing countries. At the same time, teenage childbearing remains startlingly high, which has negative effects on young women, their families and on broader society. As the World Health Organization has said: "While motherhood is often a positive and fulfilling experience, for too many women it is associated with suffering, ill health and even death."

Adolescent fertility

Maternal mortality

Births per 1,000 women ages 15 to 19

Deaths per 100,000 live births

27

China

7.3

China

174

India

25.7

India

14

United States

United States

24.1

126

Indonesia

50.0

Indonesia

Brazil

67.3

44

Brazil

178

39.2

Pakistan

Pakistan

111.9

Nigeria

814

Nigeria

Bangladesh

83.5

Bangladesh

176

25

Russia

24.1

Russia

4.2

Japan

5

Japan

Mexico

Mexico

63.5

38

60.8

Philippines

114

Philippines

353

Ethiopia

60.1

Ethiopia

Germany

6

7.0

Germany

38.1

Vietnam

54

Vietnam

Egypt

52.4

33

Egypt

Dem. Rep. of Congo

693

Dem. Rep. of Congo

122.9

27.1

Iran

25

Iran

Turkey

28.4

16

Turkey

Thailand

20

Thailand

44.6

Adolescent fertility

Births per 1,000 women ages 15 to 19

7.3

China

25.7

India

United States

24.1

50.0

Indonesia

67.3

Brazil

39.2

Pakistan

111.9

Nigeria

83.5

Bangladesh

24.1

Russia

4.2

Japan

Mexico

63.5

60.8

Philippines

60.1

Ethiopia

7.0

Germany

38.1

Vietnam

52.4

Egypt

Dem. Rep. of Congo

122.9

27.1

Iran

28.4

Turkey

Thailand

44.6

Maternal mortality

Deaths per 100,000 live births

27

China

174

India

14

United States

126

Indonesia

Brazil

44

178

Pakistan

Nigeria

814

Bangladesh

176

25

Russia

Japan

5

Mexico

38

Philippines

114

353

Ethiopia

Germany

6

Vietnam

54

Egypt

33

Dem. Rep. of Congo

693

Iran

25

Turkey

16

Thailand

20

Source: United Nations Human Development Report 2015, World Bank. Graphic: Hilary Fung and Alissa Scheller/The Huffington Post.

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