Female members of the Shoura. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia ranks ninth among Arab countries in terms of gender equality, according to data released by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum.

The WEF’s annual Gender Gap Index for 2014 states that Saudi Arabia has improved the income of Saudi women compared to their male counterparts, with higher levels of political and economic participation, and improvement in education, health and living standards.

The Kingdom has been successful in narrowing the gender gap over the past nine years, and is currently counted among the top Arab countries in terms of gender equality. Saudi Arabia has a global ranking of 130 out of 142 countries on the index, the report said.

Kuwait is ranked the top Arab country at 113, followed by the UAE at 115, Qatar at 116, Tunisia at 123, Bahrain at 124, Algeria at 126, Oman at 128 and Egypt at 129. Arab countries including Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Iran, Mali and the Ivory Coast remained at the bottom of the index while Yemen was rated the worst country globally with a ranking of 142.

Nordic countries led the world in promoting gender equality with Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark ranking among the top five.

Northern European countries were among the top 10 with Ireland in at eighth position, Belgium 10th, Nicaragua sixth, Rwanda seventh, and the Philippines ninth, the report said.

 
 
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