Empowering Women Economically Is Essential for Global Growth
Keeping women on the sidelines of the economy is not only unjust—it is economically self-defeating. Today, more than 95 percent of women worldwide live in economies that do not guarantee full legal equality. In fact, no economy has yet secured all the legal rights necessary for women to participate fully in economic life. Even in countries that have modernized their laws, women still face limitations that affect the work they can pursue, the businesses they can start, and the safety they need to seek opportunities.
Data from the World Bank’s Women, Business, and the Law index highlights the scale of the challenge. On average, economies score just 67 out of 100 on laws supporting women’s economic equality—meaning women enjoy only about two-thirds of the economic rights granted to men. The gap widens further in practice: enforcement of these laws averages 53, while the systems needed to implement them effectively score only 47.
The consequences extend far beyond fairness. At a time when global growth is slowing and demographic pressures are rising, excluding women from economic life undermines development. Extensive research consistently shows that when women work, lead, and innovate, economies become more productive, businesses perform better, and societies grow more resilient. Gender inclusion strengthens labor markets, increases productivity, and drives long-term economic dynamism. In regions such as South Asia, expanding women’s economic participation may be one of the most effective strategies for boosting growth potential.
Yet some of the regions that would benefit most from women’s contributions—particularly the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa—still maintain significant legal barriers to women’s economic participation. These regions also have some of the fastest-growing youth populations. Without meaningful reforms, millions of young women risk being excluded from the workforce just as their economies need their skills and talent most.
Several key barriers continue to restrict women’s participation. Safety remains a major concern. When protections against violence are weak or poorly enforced, women face serious obstacles to working, traveling, or engaging fully in public life. Access to childcare is another critical challenge. In low-income countries, only about one percent of essential childcare support frameworks are in place. Without affordable and reliable childcare, many mothers are forced to reduce their working hours, decline career opportunities, or leave the workforce altogether.
Entrepreneurship offers a powerful path to economic independence and innovation. However, women still encounter major challenges in accessing credit, entering markets, and securing enforcement of their economic rights. While the legal right to start a business is nearly universal, only about half of the world’s economies guarantee equal access to finance. Without adequate capital, women-led businesses cannot grow, generate jobs, or fully contribute to economic development.
Encouragingly, progress is underway. Between October 2023 and October 2025, 68 economies implemented 113 reforms aimed at expanding women’s economic opportunities. Governments introduced stronger protections against violence, expanded parental leave policies, improved childcare standards, established equal pay measures, and removed restrictions on women’s employment. Countries including Egypt, Jordan, Madagascar, Oman, and Somalia have taken important steps toward eliminating discriminatory laws, demonstrating that meaningful reform is possible when political commitment aligns with economic priorities.
Despite these advances, progress remains uneven and far too slow. Policymakers must accelerate efforts to remove remaining discriminatory laws and complete unfinished legal reforms. Equally important is ensuring that these laws are effectively enforced so that legal rights translate into real opportunities. Strengthening institutions—including justice systems, regulatory bodies, and childcare services—is essential to enable women to fully exercise their rights and participate in economic life.
No economy can afford to leave half of its potential untapped. Every woman who wants to work, lead, or start a business should have the opportunity to do so without barriers imposed by outdated laws or ineffective institutions. Advancing women’s economic equality is not only a matter of justice—it is a critical investment in sustainable growth and shared prosperity.
resource: World Bank