The latest Women, Business and the Law study shows that despite decades of progress in drafting gender‑equality legislation, most governments have failed to implement or enforce these laws effectively.
For the first time, the report evaluates not just legislation but also the systems that enforce these rights. While the average country scores 67 out of 100 for the adequacy of its laws, the enforcement score drops sharply to 53. When examining whether countries have the institutions, budgets and services required to implement those rights, the score falls even further to 47.
Only 4% of the world’s women live in economies that offer near‑full legal equality. World Bank Chief Economist Indermit Gill said weak enforcement reveals the extent of the barriers still holding women back from contributing fully to economic growth.
“These numbers reflect huge opportunity gaps,” he said, warning that countries are undermining their own development by failing to unlock women’s economic potential.
The report assesses 10 areas shaping women’s participation in the economy, including workplace protections, entrepreneurship, safety from violence, access to childcare, asset ownership and retirement security. Safety is identified as one of the most serious shortcomings. Norman Loayza, Director of the World Bank’s Policy Indicators Group, said, “We have only a third of the safety laws we need, and even then, enforcement is failing 80% of the time.”
The report also highlights major barriers to women entrepreneurs. Although women can legally start businesses on the same terms as men in most countries, only half of the economies ensure equal access to credit, leaving female entrepreneurs locked out of essential financing.
Childcare remains a critical gap. Fewer than half of the 190 economies assessed provide financial or tax support for childcare, and only 30% have the necessary policies to ensure affordability and quality. In low‑income countries, just 1% of required childcare support systems are in place.
Lead Author Tea Trumbic said ensuring equal opportunity is “an economic must‑have”, especially as 1.2 billion young people, half of them girls, prepare to enter the workforce over the next decade.
–WorldBankGroup/ChannelAfrica–
