While this revelation is striking enough, the report’s deeper finding is even more troubling— even where equal laws exist, enforcement is failing.
For the first time in its eleven editions, the World Bank’s flagship report has measured not only the laws on the books but also how effectively those laws are enforced and supported by institutional systems. The results confirm what many women have long experienced: a law written is not necessarily a right realized.
On average, economies score 67 out of 100 on the adequacy of laws supporting women’s economic equality. But when enforcement is taken into account, that score drops to 53. More alarmingly, when researchers assessed the systems required to implement those rights—courts, regulatory bodies, and support services—the score fell to just 47. In practical terms, this means that fewer than half of the essential policies and institutions needed for women to exercise their legal rights are actually in place worldwide.
Perhaps the most striking finding is that only 4% of women globally live in economies that provide even near-full legal equality. The remaining 96% face significant legal barriers, even before the enforcement gap is considered.
The report points to three areas where these challenges are most visible: safety, childcare, and entrepreneurship. Safety from violence emerges as a fundamental concern, with legal protections still inadequate and enforcement failing in the vast majority of cases. When violence goes unchecked, women cannot work, move freely, or participate fully in public life.
Childcare is another major constraint. In low-income economies, only 1% of essential childcare support mechanisms are in place. Without affordable and reliable childcare, millions of women are forced into difficult choices between earning an income and caring for their families.
Even entrepreneurship, often seen as a pathway to economic independence, remains constrained. While women are legally allowed to start businesses in nearly all economies, only about half guarantee equal access to credit. Without access to finance, women-led businesses struggle to expand, innovate, or generate employment.
The implications extend far beyond questions of fairness. With 1.2 billion young people—half of them girls—expected to enter the workforce over the next decade, excluding women from full economic participation is not only unjust but economically unsustainable. Studies consistently show that closing gender gaps in employment and entrepreneurship could increase global GDP by more than 20%.
Yet the regions experiencing the fastest population growth—the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa—continue to maintain some of the most restrictive legal environments for women’s economic participation.
At the same time, there are signs of progress. Between 2023 and 2025, 68 economies introduced 113 legal reforms aimed at improving women’s economic opportunities. Egypt, in particular, stood out as the world’s leading reformer, expanding paid maternity leave, introducing paternity leave, mandating equal pay, and enabling more flexible work arrangements. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, 33 reforms were implemented—the highest number of any region—with countries such as Madagascar and Somalia removing restrictions on women’s employment in sectors like construction, manufacturing, and agriculture.
The broader message is clear. Legal reform, while necessary, is not enough on its own. What matters is whether these laws are enforced and supported by functioning institutions. Governments must invest in justice systems, strengthen regulatory frameworks, expand childcare infrastructure, and ensure that rights on paper translate into real opportunities in everyday life. No economy can afford to leave half of its potential untapped.
* The writer is a Professor of political science.
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