Title page

Contents

FOREWORD 10

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 12

MAIN MESSAGES 14

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 17

ABBREVIATIONS 39

CHAPTER 1. Tracking Progress on Women's Legal Rights 40

Introduction 40

Data update 43

Which economies improved the most? 46

In which indicators did economies reform the most? 49

References 52

ANNEX 1A. Summaries of Reforms 54

CHAPTER 2. Introducing Women, Business and the Law 2.0: Toward Better Measurement of Laws, Policies, and Practices 58

Introduction 58

Development of Women, Business and the Law 2.0 61

Scope and definitions of gender equality in the Women, Business and the Law framework 61

Legal frameworks: Two new indicators on Safety and Childcare and a review of the ongoing eight indicators 62

Supportive frameworks: Policy instruments to implement gender equality laws 76

Expert opinions: Perception-based surveys of experts on the implementation of legal rights 88

Next steps in adopting the new approach 92

Annex 2A. Women, Business and the Law 2.0 questions 94

References 96

CHAPTER 3. Women, Business and the Law 2.0: Trends Emerging from Data Analysis of New Measurements 103

Introduction 103

Women, Business and the Law 2.0 legal frameworks index 105

Women, Business and the Law 2.0 supportive frameworks index 112

Women, Business and the Law 2.0 expert opinions index 119

Comparing the three pillars to trace women's equality from de jure to de facto 125

What is next? 132

Annex 3A. Women, Business and the Law 1.0 and 2.0 scores 133

References 138

APPENDIX A. Data Notes 140

TABLE ES.1. INTRODUCING THE 10 INDICATORS OF WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2.0: TOWARD BETTER MEASUREMENT OF LAWS, POLICIES,... 20

TABLE 1.1. WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2024 SCORE (WBL 1.0) 44

TABLE 1.2. FIVE ECONOMIES ADVANCED THE MOST TOWARD GENDER EQUALITY SINCE OCTOBER 2022 47

TABLE 1.3. IN 2022-23, ECONOMIES IMPLEMENTED THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF REFORMS TO IMPROVE GENDER EQUALITY IN THE PARENTHOOD... 51

TABLE 2.1. INTRODUCING THE 10 INDICATORS OF WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2.0: TOWARD BETTER MEASUREMENT OF LAWS, POLICIES,... 60

TABLE 2.2. FIFTY-NINE ECONOMIES PROHIBIT WOMEN FROM PERFORMING CERTAIN TASKS IN INDUSTRIAL JOBS 70

TABLE 2.3. WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2.0 MEASURES VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORKS 77

TABLE 2.4. EXPERT OPINIONS QUESTIONS 91

FIGURE ES.1. WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2.0 INTRODUCES NEW MEASUREMENTS TO TRACK GLOBAL PROGRESS TOWARD GENDER EQUALITY 19

FIGURE ES.2. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA SHOW THE LARGEST GAPS IN WBL 2.0 LEGAL FRAMEWORKS SCORES,... 21

FIGURE ES.3. SAFETY, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND CHILDCARE INDICATORS HAVE THE LARGEST LEGAL GAPS 22

FIGURE ES.4. THE LOWEST SCORES FOR SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORKS ARE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, FOLLOWED BY THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH... 22

FIGURE ES.5. THE LARGEST RANGES IN EXPERT OPINIONS SCORES ARE WITHIN THE EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC AND SOUTH ASIA REGIONS 23

FIGURE ES.6. ECONOMIES WITH HIGH SCORES ON THE WBL 1.0 LEGAL INDEX CONTINUE TO HAVE HIGH SCORES ON THE WBL 2.0 LEGAL INDEX 25

FIGURE ES.7. MORE GENDER-EQUAL LAWS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH BETTER SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORKS 26

FIGURE ES.8. MORE GENDER-EQUAL LAWS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PERCEPTION OF MORE RIGHTS FOR WOMEN IN PRACTICE 28

FIGURE ES.9. SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORKS LAG BEHIND LEGAL FRAMEWORKS AND EXPERT OPINIONS SCORES ACROSS REGIONS AND INCOME GROUPS 29

FIGURE ES.10. IN 2022-23, 18 ECONOMIES ENACTED REFORMS ACROSS ALL WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 1.0 INDICATORS 30

FIGURE 1.1. THE LARGEST LEGAL GAPS ARE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA AND SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA 45

FIGURE 1.2. GAPS IN SCORES OF MORE THAN 60 POINTS ARE FOUND ACROSS ALL INCOME GROUPS 46

FIGURE 1.3. MOST REFORMS WERE UNDERTAKEN IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA AND LOW-INCOME ECONOMIES 47

FIGURE 1.4. IN 2022-23, 18 ECONOMIES ENACTED REFORMS ACROSS ALL WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 1.0 INDICATORS 50

FIGURE 2.1. WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2.0 INTRODUCES NEW MEASUREMENTS TO TRACK GLOBAL PROGRESS TOWARD GENDER EQUALITY 59

FIGURE 2.2. SAFETY LEGAL FRAMEWORKS QUESTIONS EXAMINE LAWS ON CHILD MARRIAGE, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND... 64

FIGURE 2.3. CHILDCARE LEGAL FRAMEWORKS QUESTIONS EXAMINE LAWS GOVERNING THE PROVISION OF CENTER-BASED CHILDCARE SERVICES 67

FIGURE 2.4. MOBILITY LEGAL FRAMEWORKS QUESTIONS EXAMINE LAWS AFFECTING WOMEN'S AGENCY AND FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT 68

FIGURE 2.5. WORKPLACE LEGAL FRAMEWORKS QUESTIONS EXAMINE LAWS AFFECTING WOMEN'S DECISIONS TO WORK 69

FIGURE 2.6. PAY LEGAL FRAMEWORKS QUESTIONS EXAMINE LAWS AFFECTING THE GENDER WAGE GAP 70

FIGURE 2.7. MARRIAGE LEGAL FRAMEWORKS QUESTIONS EXAMINE CONSTRAINTS IN MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE 71

FIGURE 2.8. PARENTHOOD LEGAL FRAMEWORKS QUESTIONS EXAMINE PAID LEAVE POLICIES AND PROTECTIONS FOR PREGNANT WORKERS 72

FIGURE 2.9. ENTREPRENEURSHIP LEGAL FRAMEWORKS QUESTIONS EXAMINE LEGAL CONSTRAINTS ON WOMEN'S ABILITIES TO START AND RUN... 73

FIGURE 2.10. ASSETS LEGAL FRAMEWORKS QUESTIONS EXAMINE GENDER DIFFERENCES IN PROPERTY AND INHERITANCE LAWS 75

FIGURE 2.11. PENSION LEGAL FRAMEWORKS QUESTIONS EXAMINE LAWS AFFECTING THE SIZE OF A WOMAN'S PENSION 76

FIGURE 2.12. SAFETY SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORKS QUESTIONS EXAMINE MECHANISMS IMPLEMENTING LAWS ON CHILD MARRIAGE, SEXUAL... 79

FIGURE 2.13. MOBILITY SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORKS QUESTIONS EXAMINE BUREAUCRATIC BARRIERS TO WOMEN'S AGENCY AND FREEDOM OF... 80

FIGURE 2.14. WORKPLACE SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORKS QUESTIONS EXAMINE MEASURES IMPLEMENTING LAWS AFFECTING WOMEN'S DECISIONS TO... 81

FIGURE 2.15. PAY SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORKS QUESTIONS EXAMINE MEASURES IMPLEMENTING LAWS AFFECTING WOMEN'S PAY 82

FIGURE 2.16. MARRIAGE SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORKS QUESTIONS EXAMINE COURTS AND PROCEDURES IN FAMILY LAW 83

FIGURE 2.17. PARENTHOOD SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORKS QUESTIONS EXAMINE MEASURES IMPLEMENTING LAWS AFFECTING WOMEN'S WORK UPON... 84

FIGURE 2.18. CHILDCARE SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORKS QUESTIONS EXAMINE MECHANISMS IMPLEMENTING CHILDCARE LAWS 85

FIGURE 2.19. ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORKS QUESTIONS EXAMINE PROGRAMS AND DATA SUPPORTING FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS 86

FIGURE 2.20. ASSETS SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORKS QUESTIONS EXAMINE MECHANISMS AND DATA TO IMPLEMENT WOMEN'S PROPERTY AND... 87

FIGURE 2.21. PENSION SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORKS QUESTIONS EXAMINE POLICIES AIMED AT REDUCING THE GENDER PENSION GAP 88

FIGURE 2.22. PATHWAY TO THE NEW WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2.0 INDEX 93

FIGURE 3.1. THE NEW WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2.0 APPROACH GOES BEYOND LAWS 104

FIGURE 3.2. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA HAVE THE LARGEST GAPS IN WBL 2.0 LEGAL FRAMEWORKS SCORES,... 106

FIGURE 3.3. GAPS IN WBL 2.0 LEGAL FRAMEWORKS SCORES EXCEED 60 POINTS ACROSS ALL INCOME GROUPS 107

FIGURE 3.4. SAFETY, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND CHILDCARE INDICATORS HAVE THE LARGEST LEGAL GAPS 108

FIGURE 3.5. ECONOMIES WITH HIGH SCORES ON THE WBL 1.0 LEGAL INDEX CONTINUE TO HAVE HIGH SCORES ON THE WBL 2.0 LEGAL INDEX 110

FIGURE 3.6. SCORES ACROSS REGIONS AND INCOME GROUPS ARE LOWER ON THE WBL 2.0 LEGAL INDEX THAN ON THE WBL 1.0 LEGAL INDEX 111

FIGURE 3.7. THE LOWEST SCORES FOR SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORKS ARE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, FOLLOWED BY THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH... 114

FIGURE 3.8. THE ADOPTION OF SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORKS VARIES MOST IN HIGH-INCOME ECONOMIES 114

FIGURE 3.9. GLOBALLY, THE MOST SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORKS ARE IN PLACE FOR MOBILITY AND THE FEWEST FOR WORKPLACE 115

FIGURE 3.10. ALL REGIONS AND INCOME GROUPS LACK THE SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORKS NEEDED TO PROTECT WOMEN'S RIGHTS 117

FIGURE 3.11. FOR NEARLY ALL INDICATORS, THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL GAP BETWEEN THE LEGAL AND SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORKS SCORES 118

FIGURE 3.12. THE LARGEST RANGES IN EXPERT OPINIONS SCORES ARE WITHIN THE EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC AND SOUTH ASIA REGIONS 120

FIGURE 3.13. THERE IS A 31-POINT DIFFERENCE IN AVERAGE EXPERT OPINIONS SCORES ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN PRACTICE BETWEEN LOW- AND... 121

FIGURE 3.14. THE PENSION INDICATOR RECEIVES THE HIGHEST SCORE AND SAFETY THE LOWEST SCORE FROM THE EXPERTS 122

FIGURE 3.15. EXPERTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA, EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC, AND HIGH-INCOME ECONOMIES PERCEIVE MORE WOMEN'S... 123

FIGURE 3.16. EXPERTS' ASSESSMENT OF WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN PRACTICE ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE LEGAL FRAMEWORKS SUGGEST 124

FIGURE 3.17. MORE GENDER-EQUAL LAWS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH BETTER SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORKS 126

FIGURE 3.18. MORE GENDER-EQUAL LAWS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PERCEPTION OF MORE RIGHTS FOR WOMEN IN PRACTICE 129

FIGURE 3.19. SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORKS LAG BEHIND LEGAL FRAMEWORKS AND EXPERT OPINIONS SCORES ACROSS REGIONS AND INCOME GROUPS 132

Boxes

BOX ES.1. FROM WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 1.0 TO WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2.0 18

BOX 1.1. ABOUT WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 41

BOX 1.2. HOW WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW INFORMS THE WORLD BANK'S 2024-30 GENDER STRATEGY: ACCELERATE GENDER EQUALITY TO... 42

BOX 2.1. EXPERT OPINIONS QUESTIONS: AN EXAMPLE 90

Maps

MAP 3.1. WOMEN HAVE LESS THAN TWO-THIRDS OF THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF MEN UNDER THE NEW INDEX 105

MAP 3.2. GLOBALLY, TWO-FIFTHS OF SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORKS ARE IN PLACE TO IMPLEMENT GENDER-EQUAL LAWS 113

MAP 3.3. EXPERTS' PERCEPTIONS: TWO-THIRDS OF WOMEN ENJOY RIGHTS EQUAL TO THOSE OF MEN 120

Box Figures

FIGURE B1.1.1. THE EIGHT WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 1.0 INDICATORS 41

TABLE A.1. METHODOLOGICAL STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF THE WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW INDEXES 143

TABLE A.2. WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 1.0 INDICATORS AND QUESTIONS 145

TABLE A.3. WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2.0 LEGAL FRAMEWORKS INDICATORS AND QUESTIONS 153

TABLE A.4. WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2.0 SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORKS INDICATORS AND QUESTIONS 164

TABLE A.5. WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2.0 EXPERT OPINIONS INDICATORS AND QUESTIONS 172

Annex Tables

TABLE ES.A.1. WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2.0 QUESTIONS 31

TABLE ES.B.1. WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 1.0 AND 2.0 SCORES 33

TABLE 2A.1. WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2.0 QUESTIONS 94

TABLE 3A.1. WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 1.0 AND 2.0 SCORES 133

Annex Boxes

BOX A.1. ASSUMPTIONS USED TO ENSURE COMPARABILITY 141