Morocco Leads Maghreb in Gender Equality, Ranks 84th Globally

Monday 09 September 2024 - 16:45

In a recent statistical review by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC), Morocco has emerged as the regional leader in gender equality, ranking 84th out of 139 countries worldwide in the 2024 Gender Equality Index. This places the North African nation ahead of its Maghreb neighbors, including Tunisia (85th), Algeria (88th), and Mauritania (126th).

The Gender Equality Index, launched in 2019 and updated in 2022, tracks global progress on gender-related aspects of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda. The latest edition assesses 14 out of the 17 SDGs, focusing on areas where gender-specific data is most available and measurable.

Morocco's global ranking reflects a moderate yet steady advancement in gender equality, indicating opportunities for further improvement. The country's performance outpaces the broader North Africa and Middle East (MENA) region, where the United Arab Emirates leads at 32nd place, followed by Kuwait (54th) and Saudi Arabia (69th).

The report emphasizes the crucial role of data in guiding efforts towards gender equality, noting that the transformation of this data into actionable metrics is essential for overcoming the slow progress observed since 2015. The JRC statistical audit aims to strengthen the index's robustness and effectiveness as a monitoring tool, through streamlining indicators, adjusting inclusion thresholds, and enhancing documentation.

As the Moroccan government continues to prioritize gender equality, the 2024 Gender Equality Index serves as a valuable benchmark, highlighting both the country's progress and the areas where more work is needed to achieve parity. The report's findings underscore the importance of data-driven policies and a sustained commitment to empowering women and promoting gender equity across all facets of society.