Top 10 African countries with the most economic opportunities for women

Although women comprise a sizable component of the population throughout the continent, structural obstacles prevent them from participating fully in official economic activity.

As today marks International Women’s Day, it is important to highlight areas where women have endured and areas where they have thrived.

According to the Global Gender Gap Report from the World Economic Forum, Sub-Saharan Africa has advanced by an overall +5.6 percentage points since 2006 when it comes to closing the gender gap.

While 21 of 35 economies are in the top 100, Namibia stands out as a top-ten performer. Over half of the nations in the area have closed more than 70% of their gender gap; yet, the top and worst positions differ by 22.8 percentage points, the report states.

“Participation and Opportunity stands at 68.1%, with progress in labour-force participation and positive results in technical and professional roles,” the report adds.

Women’s engagement in the workforce has a substantial impact on economic growth.

Studies have indicated that bridging gender inequalities in labor force participation can increase GDP.

In Africa, where many economies are based on agriculture and informal trading, providing women greater access to education, financing, and technology can boost production.

Countries such as Rwanda, where women play important roles in business and governance, have shown how gender inclusion can drive economic growth.

Women’s economic participation is an effective means of reducing poverty.

When women make money, they invest up to 90% of it back into their families and communities, increasing access to education, healthcare, and higher living standards.

Financial inclusion for women, such as access to bank accounts, mobile banking, and microloans, enables them to start enterprises and attain financial independence. Expanding financial services for women can help to expedite economic transition.

With that said, here are the African countries with the highest index for women’s economic participation and opportunity, as per the Global Gender Gap Report.