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Gender inequality index — all countries

Gender inequality index — Southern Africa

Gender inequality index in Southern Africa in 2023 — 0.4 index. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 19.9%.

2023 0.4 index −0.71% vs 2022
World rank —
Period maximum 0.5 index1990
Period minimum 0.4 index2023

Trend over time

1990–2023 · index, 0–1

Gender inequality index — Southern Africa, 1990–20230.40.4250.450.4750.51990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 0.5 index1991: 0.498 index1992: 0.49 index1993: 0.488 index1994: 0.482 index1995: 0.483 index1996: 0.49 index1997: 0.49 index1998: 0.476 index1999: 0.464 index2000: 0.472 index2001: 0.462 index2002: 0.467 index2003: 0.472 index2004: 0.471 index2005: 0.454 index2006: 0.451 index2007: 0.449 index2008: 0.464 index2009: 0.458 index2010: 0.452 index2011: 0.449 index2012: 0.441 index2013: 0.438 index2014: 0.439 index2015: 0.437 index2016: 0.423 index2017: 0.417 index2018: 0.408 index2019: 0.407 index2020: 0.404 index2021: 0.405 index2022: 0.403 index2023: 0.4 index
Change over the period: −0.099 (−19.88%) Average annual rate: -0.67 %

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Southern Africa

Southern Africa 0.4 index
World 0.455 index
Gender inequality index — Southern Africa, by year Southern Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year index Change Change, %
2023 0.4 −0.003 −0.71%
2022 0.403 −0.001 −0.37%
2021 0.405 +0.001 +0.14%
2020 0.404 −0.003 −0.83%
2019 0.407 −0.001 −0.18%
2018 0.408 −0.009 −2.18%
2017 0.417 −0.006 −1.3%
2016 0.423 −0.014 −3.17%
2015 0.437 −0.002 −0.55%
2014 0.439 +0.001 +0.15%
2013 0.438 −0.003 −0.69%
2012 0.441 −0.007 −1.64%
2011 0.449 −0.003 −0.71%
2010 0.452 −0.006 −1.22%
2009 0.458 −0.006 −1.4%
2008 0.464 +0.015 +3.4%
2007 0.449 −0.003 −0.56%
2006 0.451 −0.003 −0.68%
2005 0.454 −0.017 −3.58%
2004 0.471 −0.001 −0.16%
2003 0.472 +0.005 +1.04%
2002 0.467 +0.005 +1.15%
2001 0.462 −0.01 −2.09%
2000 0.472 +0.008 +1.72%
1999 0.464 −0.012 −2.62%
1998 0.476 −0.013 −2.73%
1997 0.49 −0 −0.08%
1996 0.49 +0.007 +1.5%
1995 0.483 +0.001 +0.2%
1994 0.482 −0.006 −1.19%
1993 0.488 −0.002 −0.47%
1992 0.49 −0.008 −1.54%
1991 0.498 −0.002 −0.4%
1990 0.5 — —

About the indicator

The UNDP Gender Inequality Index, built on three dimensions: reproductive health (maternal mortality and adolescent birth rates), empowerment (the share of women in parliament and the level of education) and participation in the labor market. Unlike the Gender Development Index, here zero means full equality and one means extreme inequality: the scale is inverted. Of the three dimensions it is reproductive health that separates countries the most.

Important: The scale is the reverse of the Gender Development Index: here the lower the better. The two are not to be confused — these are different indexes with different components.

Source: Human Development Report (UNDP), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.

Other indicators for Southern Africa

Indexes Gender development index

The ratio of the Human Development Index of women to the same index of men.

Southern Africa by year Indexes Human development index

A composite measure of development: life expectancy, education and income in a single number from 0 to 1.

Southern Africa by year Mortality Maternal mortality ratio

The number of deaths of women from causes related to pregnancy per 100,000 live births.

Southern Africa by year Labor Women in parliament

What part of the seats in the national parliament women hold.

Southern Africa by year
All indicators for Southern Africa