Women’s Economic-Opportunity Laws Only Half-Enforced Globally This page in:English Français العربية 中文 Español © 2026 World Bank Group,

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2026/02/24/women-s-economic-opportunity-laws-only-half-enforced-globally Only 4% of women worldwide live in economies that provide nearly full legal equality WASHINGTON, February 24, 2026—Laws designed to ensure equal economic opportunities for women are only half-enforced on average across the world, indicating that the barriers that keep women from contributing fully to growth and prosperity are far steeper than previously thought, according to a new report from the World Bank Group. Even if the laws were fully enforced, women would still enjoy barely two-thirds of the legal rights of men. © 2026 World Bank Group,