As the world marks Women’s International Day, we spotlight the role women could play in leading us out of the global social progress recession.
Aligned with the UN’s theme, “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,” we highlight how advanced education is a key driver for women’s empowerment and societal progress. It addresses systemic inequalities and equips women with the knowledge and skills necessary to overcome challenges and make better-informed decisions.
Using data from the premium version of the Global Social Progress Index, we observe a positive trend in Women with Advanced Education in all regions. This indicator measures the proportion of females (age-standardized) with 12–18 years of education. However, some disparities persist, particularly in countries where economic growth doesn’t translate into improvements in women’s advanced education.
Interestingly, countries with similar GDP per capita levels show significant differences in Women in Advanced Education scores.
For example, Mexico with a GDP per capita of 19.547, scores 22.92 out of 100 points in this indicator, showcasing a considerable lag behind other upper-middle-income nations. In contrast, Argentina, which boasts a higher score of 54.32 points despite having a similar GDP per capita of 22.447. The 31.4-point difference emphasizes Mexico’s limited progress, with a small increase of 8.44 points since 2011.
Similarly, Thailand with a GDP per capita 17.507, scores 39.51 points and the Dominican Republic with a similar GDP per capita of 19.338, scores 32.53 points.
This is not an exemption for high-income countries
Surprisingly, Spain, with a GDP per capita of 39.834, scores lower than Argentina, with 42.28 points. Japan further emphasizes this, showcasing that economic wealth does not always translate into better social progress and education opportunities. Japan 🇯🇵 has a high score of 76.76 points in Women in Advanced Education despite a GDP per capita of 41.641.
This shows the urgent need for strategic investment in women’s education. Bridging the gaps not only empowers women individually but also serves as a catalyst for social progress.
As the world marks Women’s International Day, we spotlight the role women could play in leading us out of the global social progress recession.
Aligned with the UN’s theme, “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,” we highlight how advanced education is a key driver for women’s empowerment and societal progress. It addresses systemic inequalities and equips women with the knowledge and skills necessary to overcome challenges and make better-informed decisions.
Using data from the premium version of the Global Social Progress Index, we observe a positive trend in Women with Advanced Education in all regions. This indicator measures the proportion of females (age-standardized) with 12–18 years of education. However, some disparities persist, particularly in countries where economic growth doesn’t translate into improvements in women’s advanced education.
Interestingly, countries with similar GDP per capita levels show significant differences in Women in Advanced Education scores.
For example, Mexico with a GDP per capita of 19.547, scores 22.92 out of 100 points in this indicator, showcasing a considerable lag behind other upper-middle-income nations. In contrast, Argentina, which boasts a higher score of 54.32 points despite having a similar GDP per capita of 22.447. The 31.4-point difference emphasizes Mexico’s limited progress, with a small increase of 8.44 points since 2011.
Similarly, Thailand with a GDP per capita 17.507, scores 39.51 points and the Dominican Republic with a similar GDP per capita of 19.338, scores 32.53 points.
This is not an exemption for high-income countries
Surprisingly, Spain, with a GDP per capita of 39.834, scores lower than Argentina, with 42.28 points. Japan further emphasizes this, showcasing that economic wealth does not always translate into better social progress and education opportunities. Japan 🇯🇵 has a high score of 76.76 points in Women in Advanced Education despite a GDP per capita of 41.641.
This shows the urgent need for strategic investment in women’s education. Bridging the gaps not only empowers women individually but also serves as a catalyst for social progress.
