The 16 best countries for gender equality

LONDON – The global gender gap widened in 2017 for the first time since the World Economic Forum (WEF) began measuring the divide, according to a new report.

Findings published on Wednesday in the WEF's 2017 Global Gender Gap Report show the average gap worldwide now stands at 32%, compared to an average gap of 31.7% last year.

This analysis is based on four dimensions — economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival and political empowerment — across 144 countries worldwide.

On current trends, the report says, "the overall global gender gap can be closed in exactly 100 years across the 106 countries covered since the inception of the report, compared to 83 years last year."

The gaps in economic participation and political empowerment remain widest, with equality in economic participation now at its lowest point since 2008.

This year, 82 countries saw their scores increase, while 60 saw them decrease.

Keep scrolling for the 16 countries with the smallest gender gaps

(1). Canada — 0.769. This country is in 1st place for equality in educational attainment between men and women, but trails in 56th place for 'women in parliament.'

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau waves as he arrives to the Senate in Mexico City

(2). UK — 0.770. Levels of education between men and women are about equal in this country, but it scores 49th for 'women in ministerial positions.'

British Prime Minister Theresa May.

(3). Denmark — 0.776. There are an almost equal number of male and female professional and technical workers in this country, but there are two and half times more male than female legislators, senior officials and managers.

Copenhagen, Denmark.

(4). Namibia — 0.777. There are 1.28 times the number of women as men in tertiary education in this country, but it ranks 64th for 'wage equality for similar work.

A town in Namibia.

(5). Germany — 0.778. Roughly the same number of men and women work as professional and technical workers in this country, but men's average earnings are almost 1.5 times more than women's.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel

(6). France — 0.778. There are slightly more women than men in ministerial positions in this country, but it scores 129th for 'wage equality for similar work.

Women hold placards during a gathering against gender-based and sexual violence in Marseille.

(7). Philippines — 0.790. There are 1.6 times the number of women than men working as professional and technical workers in this country, but more than double the number of men than women working in parliament and ministerial positions.

(8). New Zealand — 0.791. Roughly the same number of men and women are educated up to secondary level in this country, but there are just over half as many women as men in parliament

Wellington, New Zealand.

(9). Ireland — 0.794. Roughly the same number of men and women are highly educated in this country, but men's estimated earned income is 1.7 times that of women.

Prime Minister of Ireland Leo Varadkar.

(10). Slovenia — 0.805. Roughly a third more women than men are in tertiary education in this country, but in the last 50 years only 1.5 have witnessed a female head of state.

Bled, Slovenia.

(11). Nicaragua — 0.814. There are slightly more women than men in ministerial positions in this country, but it scores 111th for 'wage equality for similar work.'

Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega (L) and Commander in Chief of the Nicaraguan army General Julio Cesar Aviles attend a military parade commemorating the 36th anniversary of the founding of the Nicaraguan army at the Juan Pablo II square in Managua, Nicaragua, September 3, 2015

(12). Sweden — 0.816. There are more female professional and technical workers in this country, but there has not been a female head of state at any time in the last 50 years.

Queen Silvia and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden visit the Refugio refugee project, part of the "Give Something Back to Berlin" initiative, in Berlin, October 7, 2016.

(13). Rwanda — 0.822. There are 1.5 times as many women as men in parliament in this country, but half as many women than men work as legislators, senior officials and managers.

Rwandan MPs discuss a national petition urging lawmakers to remove presidential term limits, at the parliament in Kigali, Rwanda Tuesday, July 14, 2015. Rwandan lawmakers on Tuesday voted in support of a petition seeking to remove presidential term limits from the country's constitution, starting a process that could see President Paul Kagame rule beyond two terms.

(14). Finland — 0.823. There are slightly more women than men in tertiary education in this country, but those in ministerial positions are two thirds men.

The government's office in Helsinki.

(15). Norway — 0.830. More women than men work as professional and technical workers in this country, but two thirds of people working in parliament and ministerial positions are men.

Ine Eriksen Soereide in Germany while she was Defence Minister in 2015. She is now Minister of Foreign Affairs.

(16). Iceland — 0.878. There are 1.6 times the number of women as men who progress to tertiary education in this country, but two thirds of those working in ministerial positions are men.

Iceland's political parties politicians attend a television debate in Reykjavik