No country has yet achieved full equality between men and women — but some countries are doing a better job of closing the gender gap than others. The Global Gender Gap Report, now in its 17th year, compares countries' gender gaps across four dimensions: economic opportunities; educational attainment; health and survival; and political empowerment. Nordic countries, such as Finland and Iceland, have been exemplary in this regard, having elected several female heads of government. There are a number of reasons why Europe has been more successful in closing the gender gap than the U.S., says Zahidi. One reason is that European countries have invested more in care infrastructure, offering affordable child care, paid parental leave and universal health care.

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Persons: Saadia Zahidi, Joe Biden's, Noreen Farrell, Zahidi, Roe, Wade, Farrell Organizations: Economic, Iceland Norway Finland New Zealand, Iceland Norway Finland New Zealand Sweden Germany Nicaragua Namibia Lithuania Belgium Ireland Rwanda, Iceland Norway Finland New Zealand Sweden Germany Nicaragua Namibia Lithuania Belgium Ireland Rwanda Latvia Costa Rica United, Iceland Norway Finland New Zealand Sweden Germany Nicaragua Namibia Lithuania Belgium Ireland Rwanda Latvia Costa Rica United Kingdom Philippines Albania Spain The Republic of Moldova South, WEF, Yale Locations: Iceland, Norway, Finland, New Zealand, Sweden, Iceland Norway Finland, Iceland Norway Finland New Zealand Sweden Germany Nicaragua Namibia Lithuania Belgium Ireland, Iceland Norway Finland New Zealand Sweden Germany Nicaragua Namibia Lithuania Belgium Ireland Rwanda Latvia Costa, Iceland Norway Finland New Zealand Sweden Germany Nicaragua Namibia Lithuania Belgium Ireland Rwanda Latvia Costa Rica United Kingdom Philippines Albania Spain The Republic of Moldova, Iceland Norway Finland New Zealand Sweden Germany Nicaragua Namibia Lithuania Belgium Ireland Rwanda Latvia Costa Rica United Kingdom Philippines Albania Spain The Republic of Moldova South Africa, U.S, Europe, North America