13 Oct 2010

Fiji ranks 108th of 134 on gender equality

4:17 pm on 13 October 2010

Fiji has been ranked 108th in a report ranking gender equality around the world.

The World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report assesses 134 countries on how well they divide resources and opportunities amongst male and female populations.

It looks at economic participation, educational attainment, political empowerment and health and survival.

Fiji is the only Pacific Island country reviewed.

While women and girls perform well in education, outnumbering males at secondary and tertiary level, women earn significantly less.

The report finds women's estimated earned income is about two fifths of men's.

Fiji's women outlive men by four years, with a healthy life expectancy of 64 to men's 60.

New Zealand ranked fifth in the survey, Australia 23rd, and Iceland 1st.