Gender Equality Leads to Higher Economic Growth

Improving gender equality and providing equal opportunities for women and girls is a matter of social justice and a smart economic strategy. Countries that achieve greater gender balance tend to experience significant economic benefits and have higher happiness rates.  Here's why:

When more educated women work, economies grow.

According to UNESCO, two-thirds of the 750 million illiterate adults are women. When women have equal access to education, job opportunities and resources, they can contribute more fully to the workforce, making better-informed decisions and participating in social and political activities. This expanded labor pool increases productivity and economic output, resulting in the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth.  According to the Council on Foreign Relations, "Global GDP could increase 26 percent by closing the gaps between women and men in the workforce, which would benefit both advanced and developing countries."

Algeria and Chad exemplify this point. According to the diagram below, Algeria could experience a 69% increase in its GDP by 2025 if women's participation equals men's. This would equate to a $233 billion increase or $5,587 in GDP per capita. Similarly, in Chad, one of the world's poorest countries, a 34% increase in GDP could be realized if women's participation is on par with men. This would result in an overall gain of $5 billion, or $368 per person.

What happens when a country closes its gender gap?

When countries close their gender gaps, like Iceland, Norway, Finland, New Zealand and Sweden, they achieve a higher level of peace, stability and happiness. More gender-equal societies tend to experience less conflict and violence, creating a more stable environment for economic growth.

In summary, countries can reap the benefits of a growing economy when they:

• Eliminate discriminatory laws and practices that restrict women's and girls' opportunities

• Close the gender gap in labor force participation, which remains at around 30% globally

• Ensure more representation of women in male-dominated fields – especially politics so women can solve female issues

• Close the gender wage gap, estimated at 20% globally

Girls Across Borders, an organization that focuses on connecting girls for positive change and social impact, continues to advocate on this issue. Every concerned party should use whatever platform to keep this issue at the top of the agenda. No single organization can solve this problem; however, working together can close the gender gap within a generation.