2002 Women of Our World

Transcription

1 2002 Women of Our World In the last decade, the situation of women has moved to the forefront of national and international policy debates. While the last half-century has seen major gains in women's health, education, and rights, progress has been slow or uneven in many areas. Gender inequality, or disparities between men and women, is still pronounced in the poorest regions and countries of the world. This Population Reference Bureau data sheet catalogs the status of women in 168 countries with a focus on demography, reproductive health, education, economic status, and political leadership. See topic area for overview and world region for data. Demography... 1 World... 3 Africa... 4 North America... 6 Latin America and the Caribbean... 7 Asia... 8 Europe Oceania Economic Status World Africa North America Latin America and the Caribbean Asia Europe Oceania Education World Africa North America Latin America and the Caribbean Asia Europe Oceania Political Leadership World Africa North America Latin America and the Caribbean Asia Europe Oceania Reproductive Health World Africa North America Latin America and the Caribbean Asia Europe Oceania Sources and Definitions... 60

2 2002 Women of Our World Demographic Profile For any given country, the ratio of women to men in the population results from differences in women s and men s death rates and migration patterns, as well as sex ratios at birth. For biological reasons, boys slightly outnumber girls at birth but have higher mortality; as they age (and as populations grow older), women tend to equal or out-number men in the population. In a few regions, mainly in Asia, a deficit of women relative to men stems from various forms of lifelong discrimination against girls and women particularly inferior nutrition and health care early in life and during the childbearing years. In a few countries, the sex ratio at birth deviates markedly in favor of boys, because a strong traditional preference for sons places girls at risk of sex-selective abortions or infanticide. In some countries, infant girls are less likely to survive than infant boys because of discrimination and neglect (see table). Table Deaths in the First Year of Life Among Girls and Boys, Selected Countries Deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births, Country Girls Boys Burkina Faso Zimbabwe Egypt Brazil United States 6 8 Nepal Bangladesh India Papua New Guinea China Source: United Nations, The World s Women 2000 Trends and Statistics.. Infant girls survive in greater numbers than infant boys almost everywhere, but in a few countries gender discrimination and neglect outweigh girls biological advantage. From 2002 to 2020, the number of women of reproductive age (15-49) in less developed countries will grow by 24 percent. (Excluding China, the number will grow by 34 percent.) Though fertility rates the number of births per woman in these countries have fallen considerably in recent decades, the relatively high fertility of past decades has meant growing numbers of young women are now beginning their reproductive years. Even if these women have fewer children than their mothers did, the absolute number of children born will continue to rise for some years to come. Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Demography-1

3 Women have higher life expectancy than men and therefore make up the majority of the elderly population in almost every country. Women spend a much larger part of their old age without partners than do men, because they tend to marry older men and live longer. Elderly women are also more likely to be living in poverty than elderly men. In many countries, elderly women are restricted in their employment opportunities, property rights, and social behavior. Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Demography-2

4 Demography: World Total Females (in millions) Women per 100 Men Women Ages (in millions) Life Expectancy at Birth (years) Total Fertility Rate Female Male WORLD 3, ,594 1, More Developed Less Developed 2, ,296 1, Less Developed (Excl. China) 1, , Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Demography-3

5 Demography: Africa Total Females (in millions) Women per 100 Men Women Ages (in millions) Life Expectancy at Birth (years) Total Fertility Rate Female Male AFRICA Sub-Saharan Africa Northern Africa Algeria Egypt Libya Morocco Sudan Tunisia Western Africa Benin Burkina Faso Cape Verde Côte d'ivoire Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Liberia Mali Mauritania Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo Eastern Africa Burundi Comoros Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Madagascar Malawi Mauritius Mozambique Reunion Rwanda Somalia Tanzania Uganda Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Demography-4

6 Demography: Africa Continued Zambia Zimbabwe Middle Africa Angola Cameroon Republic Chad Congo Congo, Dem. Rep. of Equatorial Guinea Gabon Southern Africa Botswana Lesotho Namibia South Africa Swaziland Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Demography-5

7 Demography: North America Total Females (in millions) Women per 1000 Men Women Ages (in millions) Life Expectancy at Birth (years) Total Fertility Rate Female Male NORTH AMERICA Canada United States Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Demography-6

8 Demography: Latin America and the Caribbean Total Females (in millions) Women per 1000 Men Women Ages (in millions) Life Expectancy at Birth (years) Female Male Total Fertility Rate LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN Central America Belize Costa Rica El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Mexico Nicaragua Panama Caribbean Bahamas Cuba Dominican Republic Haiti Jamaica Trinidad and Tobago South America Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador Guyana Paraguay Peru Suriname Uruguay Venezuela Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Demography-7

9 Demography: Asia Total Females (in Women per Women Ages Life Expectancy at Total millions) 100 Men (in millions) Birth (years) Fertility Rate Female Male ASIA 1, , Asia (Excl. China) 1, Western Asia Armenia Azerbaijan Bahrain Cyprus Georgia Iraq Israel Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia Syria Turkey United Arab Emirates Yemen South Central Asia Afghanistan Bangladesh Bhutan India Iran Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Maldives Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka Tajikistan Brunei Cambodia Indonesia Laos Malaysia Myanmar Philippines Singapore Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Demography-8

10 Demography: Asia Continued Total Females (in millions) Women per 100 Men Women Ages (in millions) Life Expectancy at Birth (years) Female Male Total Fertility Rate China, Hong Kong SAR Japan Korea, North Korea, South Mongolia Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Demography-9

11 Demography: Europe Total Females (in millions) Women per 100 Men Women Ages (in millions) Life Expectancy at Birth (years) Total Fertility Rate Female Male EUROPE Northern Europe Denmark Estonia Finland Ireland Latvia Lithuania Norway Sweden United Kingdom Western Europe Austria Belgium France Germany Luxembourg Netherlands Switzerland Eastern Europe Belarus Bulgaria Czech Republic Hungary Moldova Poland Romania Russia Slovakia Ukraine Southern Europe Albania Bosnia-Herzegovina Croatia Greece Italy Macedonia b Malta Portugal Slovenia Spain Yugoslavia Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Demography-10

12 Demography: Oceania Total Females (in millions) Women per 100 Men Women Ages (in millions) Life Expectancy at Birth (years) Total Fertility Rate Female Male OCEANIA Australia Fiji New Zealand Papua-New Guinea Notes: Data are unavailable Italics Data refer to year prior to that indicated * Data are excluded from regional averages z Less than 0.5 percent a Data do not include Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions (SAR) b Former Yugoslav Republic Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Demography-11

13 2002 Women of Our World Economic Status Women s employment can raise their status by allowing them to earn income and have more control over resources. Women s participation in the labor force has increased in almost all regions of the world. Several factors explain this: Women s use of family planning has enabled them to spend less time on child care and more on work outside the home; attitudes toward the employment of women have become more accepting; and new policies in some countries on family and child care favor working women. In addition, economic growth and the expansion of service industries (like finance, communications, and tourism) that tend to employ large numbers of women have increased women s labor force participation. These trends are positive, but equality in the workforce is still a long way from reality. Women typically occupy lower-paid, lower-status jobs than men and have higher unemployment rates than men. Far more women than men work in the informal sector, occupations like street vending and market work, where wages are very low and no other benefits are afforded, such as safety standards, social security, or health insurance. Even when women work in the same sector as men, wages are typically lower (see figure). For many women, working outside the home may not be viewed as a gain in status but as an unwelcome economic necessity. Women s Wages as a Percentage of Men s Wages in Manufacturing, Sri Lanka France Egypt Mexico Thailand 85% 79% 74% 71% 68% South Korea Brazil Bangladesh 50% 56% 54% Source: United Nations, The World s Women 2000 Trends and Statistics. Women are participating in the labor force in greater numbers, but they typically receive lower pay than men, even when they work in the same sector. Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Economic Status-12

14 In addition, more women are remaining in the workforce during their reproductive years, leading to a dual burden : working outside the home while at the same time doing a larger share of work in the home than men such as childrearing, cooking, and cleaning. Recent UN conferences have called on governments to reduce disparities between men and women in the workforce and provide additional support to working women, such as maternity leave, child care assistance, and other flexible arrangements. The proportion of female-headed households is on the rise globally; for a variety of reasons, these households are typically poorer than those headed by men. Femaleheaded households account for one-quarter or more of households in eastern and southern Africa, the Caribbean, North America, and parts of Europe and Central Asia. Women-headed households result from divorce, widowhood, men s migration for work, war and other armed conflicts, and unmarried women who begin childbearing. Elderly women living alone account for a growing proportion of female-headed households. The connections between gender and poverty have attracted more attention recently, because women s lack of social power and lack of resources can be mutually reinforcing. Unfortunately, most income and poverty data do not reveal how many of those living in poverty are men and how many are women. Nevertheless, a growing body of evidence shows that gender disparities are greatest in the poorest countries and regions, and that promoting gender equality can contribute to greater prosperity. Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Economic Status-13

15 Economic Status: World Percent of Female- Headed Households Percent in Labor Force (ages 15 64) Gross National Income per Capita Percent in Labor Force (ages 15 64) PPP Female Female Male $US WORLD ,650 More Developed ,520 Less Developed ,300 Less Developed (Excl. China) ,210 Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Economic Status 14

16 Economic Status: Africa Percent of Percent in Gross National Female- Labor Force Percent in Labor Force (ages Income per Headed (ages 15 64) 15 64) Capita Households PPP Female Female Male $US AFRICA ,790 Sub-Saharan Africa ,370 Northern Africa ,070 Algeria ,840 Egypt ,460 Libya Morocco ,320 Sudan Tunisia ,700 Western Africa ,000 Benin Burkina Faso Cape Verde ,450 Côte d'ivoire ,540 Gambia ,550 Ghana ,850 Guinea ,870 Guinea-Bissau Liberia Mali Mauritania ,550 Niger Nigeria Senegal ,400 Sierra Leone Togo ,380 Eastern Africa Burundi Comoros ,430 Djibouti 18 Eritrea ,040 Ethiopia Kenya ,010 Madagascar Malawi Mauritius ,950 Mozambique Reunion Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Economic Status 15

17 Economic Status: Africa Continued Percent of Percent in Gross National Female- Labor Force Percent in Labor Force (ages Income per Headed (ages 15 64) 15 64) Capita Households PPP Female Female Male $US Rwanda Somalia Tanzania Uganda ,160 Zambia Zimbabwe ,690 Middle Africa Angola ,100 Cameroon ,490 Central African Republic ,150 Chad Congo Congo, Dem. Rep. of Equatorial Guinea ,910 Gabon ,280 Southern Africa ,160 Botswana ,540 Lesotho ,350 Namibia ,580 South Africa ,710 Swaziland ,380 Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Economic Status 3

18 Economic Status: North America Percent of Female- Headed Households Percent in Labor Force (ages 15 64) Gross National Income per Capita Percent in Labor Force (ages 15 64) PPP Female Female Male $US NORTH AMERICA ,260 Canada ,440 United States ,910 Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Economic Status 17

19 Economic Status: Latin America and the Caribbean Percent of Female- Headed Households Percent in Labor Force (ages 15 64) 1980 Gross National Percent in Labor Force (ages Income per 15 64) Capita 2000 PPP Female Female Male $US LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN ,460 Central America ,900 Belize ,750 Costa Rica ,880 El Salvador ,260 Guatemala ,630 Honduras ,270 Mexico ,070 Nicaragua ,060 Panama ,450 Caribbean Bahamas ,500 Cuba Dominican Republic ,210 Haiti ,470 Jamaica ,390 Trinidad and Tobago ,690 South America ,730 Argentina ,940 Bolivia ,300 Brazil ,840 Chile ,410 Colombia ,580 Ecuador ,820 Guyana ,330 Paraguay ,380 Peru ,480 Suriname ,780 Uruguay ,750 Venezuela ,420 Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Economic Status 18

20 Economic Status: Asia Percent of Female- Headed Households Percent in Labor Force (ages 15 64) Gross National Income per Capita Percent in Labor Force (ages 15 64) PPP Female Female Male $US ASIA ,930 Asia (Excl. China) ,130 Western Asia ,810 Armenia ,360 Azerbaijan ,450 Bahrain Cyprus ,080 Georgia ,540 Iraq Israel ,070 Jordan ,880 Kuwait Lebanon Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia ,050 Syria ,450 Turkey ,440 United Arab Emirates Yemen South Central Asia ,250 Afghanistan Bangladesh ,530 Bhutan ,260 India ,230 Iran ,520 Kazakhstan ,790 Kyrgyzstan ,420 Maldives Nepal ,280 Pakistan ,860 Sri Lanka ,230 Tajikistan Turkmenistan ,340 Uzbekistan ,230 Southeast Asia ,210 Brunei Cambodia ,350 Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Economic Status 19

21 Economic Status: Asia Continued Percent of Percent in Gross National Female- Labor Force Percent in Labor Force (ages Income per Headed (ages 15 64) 15 64) Capita Households PPP Female Female Male $US Indonesia ,660 Laos ,430 Malaysia ,640 Myanmar Philippines ,990 Singapore ,640 Thailand ,950 Vietnam ,860 East Asia ,750 China a ,550 China, Hong Kong SAR ,570 Japan ,170 Korea, North Korea, South ,530 Mongolia ,610 Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Economic Status 20

22 Economic Status: Europe Percent of Female- Headed Households Percent in Labor Force (ages 15 64) Gross National Income per Capita Percent in Labor Force (ages 15 64) PPP Female Female Male $US EUROPE ,970 Northern Europe ,460 Denmark ,600 Estonia ,190 Finland ,600 Ireland ,460 Latvia ,220 Lithuania ,490 Norway ,140 Sweden ,150 United Kingdom ,220 Western Europe ,840 Austria ,600 Belgium ,710 France ,020 Germany ,510 Luxembourg ,230 Netherlands ,410 Switzerland ,760 Eastern Europe ,770 Belarus ,880 Bulgaria ,070 Czech Republic ,840 Hungary ,050 Moldova ,100 Poland ,390 Romania ,970 Russia ,990 Slovakia ,430 Ukraine ,360 Southern Europe ,520 Albania ,240 Bosnia-Herzegovina Croatia ,260 Greece ,800 Italy ,000 Macedonia b ,590 Malta Portugal ,860 Slovenia ,050 Spain ,850 Yugoslavia Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Economic Status 21

23 Economic Status: Oceania Percent of Female- Headed Households Percent in Labor Force (ages 15 64) Gross National Income per Capita Percent in Labor Force (ages 15 64) PPP Female Female Male $US OCEANIA ,880 Australia ,850 Fiji ,780 New Zealand ,630 Papua-New Guinea ,260 Notes: Data are unavailable Italics Data refer to year prior to that indicated * Data are excluded from regional averages z Less than 0.5 percent a Data do not include Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions (SAR) b Former Yugoslav Republic Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Economic Status 22

24 2002 Women of Our World Education Recent UN conferences have called for universal access to and completion of primary education, and for reducing the gender gap differences in boys and girls enrollment in secondary education. Many governments now recognize that female education can foster economic growth and improve the health of women and children. Women with more education have smaller, healthier families because they usually make a later transition into adulthood: They have their first sexual experience later, marry later, want smaller families, and are more likely to use contraception and other health care than their less educated peers. Primary and secondary school enrollments for both girls and boys increased during the 1990s in almost all regions of the world. The gender gap has closed somewhat in recent years but remains pronounced at the secondary school level. Girls are more likely than boys to discontinue their schooling because of household duties, early marriage and/or childbearing, parents perceptions that education is more beneficial for sons, and worries about girls safety at school. During the 1990s, the gender gap in education closed somewhat in countries where girls have historically lagged behind boys in northern Africa, sub-saharan Africa, western Asia, and southern Asia (see selected countries in figure on following page). Nevertheless, in regions where almost one-third of the world s women live (in southern Asia and sub-saharan Africa), the gender gap in education continues to be wide. The populations of these two regions are among the world s fastest growing, suggesting that the absolute number of illiterate and poorly educated women in these regions will continue to grow. Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Education 23

25 Gender Gap in Secondary Education, 1985 and Mid-1990s Females enrolled in secondary school per 100 males Mid-1990s* Nepal Senegal Morocco Iran Peru Philippines *Latest survey year, Source: UNESCO Statistical Yearbook, Differences in girls and boys secondary school enrollments have closed somewhat in recent years, with some notable gains in countries where girls lagged furthest behind. Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Education 24

26 Education: World Percent Literate (ages 15+) 2000 Percent Enrolled in Secondary School 1985 Secondary School Female Male Female Male Female Male WORLD More Developed Less Developed Less Developed (Excl. China) Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Education 25

27 Education: Africa Percent Literate (ages 15+) 2000 Percent Enrolled in Secondary School 1985 Secondary School Female Male Female Male Female Male AFRICA Sub-Saharan Africa Northern Africa Algeria Egypt Libya Morocco Sudan Tunisia Western Africa Benin Burkina Faso Cape Verde Côte d'ivoire Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea- Bissau Liberia Mali Mauritania Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo Eastern Africa Burundi Comoros Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Madagascar Malawi Mauritius Mozambique Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Education 26

28 Education: Africa Continued Percent Literate (ages 15+) 2000 Percent Enrolled in Secondary School 1985 Secondary School Female Male Female Male Female Male Reunion Rwanda Somalia 6 10 Tanzania Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe Middle Africa Angola Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Congo Congo, Dem. Rep. of Equatorial Guinea Gabon Southern Africa Botswana Lesotho Namibia South Africa Swaziland Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Education 27

29 Education: North America Percent Literate (ages 15+) 2000 Percent Enrolled in Secondary School 1985 Secondary School Female Male Female Male Female Male NORTH AMERICA Canada United States Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Education 28

30 Education: Latin America and the Caribbean Percent Literate (ages 15+) 2000 Percent Enrolled in Secondary School 1985 Secondary School Female Male Female Male Female Male LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN Central America Belize Costa Rica El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Mexico Nicaragua Panama Caribbean Bahamas Cuba Dominican Republic Haiti Jamaica Trinidad and Tobago South America Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador Guyana Paraguay Peru Suriname Uruguay Venezuela Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Education 29

31 Education: Asia Percent Literate (ages 15+) 2000 Percent Enrolled in Secondary School 1985 Secondary School Female Male Female Male Female Male ASIA Asia (Excl. China) Western Asia Armenia Azerbaijan Bahrain Cyprus Georgia Iraq Israel Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia Syria Turkey United Arab Emirates Yemen South Central Asia Afghanistan Bangladesh Bhutan India Iran Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Maldives Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Education 30

32 Education: Asia Continued Southeast Asia Brunei Cambodia Indonesia Laos Malaysia Myanmar Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam East Asia China a China, Hong Kong SAR Japan Korea, North Korea, South Mongolia Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Education 31

33 Education: Europe Percent Literate (ages 15+) 2000 Percent Enrolled in Secondary School 1985 Secondary School Female Male Female Male Female Male EUROPE Northern Europe Denmark Estonia Finland Ireland Latvia Lithuania Norway Sweden United Kingdom Western Europe Austria Belgium France Germany Luxembourg Netherlands Switzerland Eastern Europe Belarus Bulgaria Czech Republic Hungary Moldova Poland Romania Russia Slovakia Ukraine Southern Europe Albania Bosnia- Herzegovina Croatia Greece Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Education 32

34 Education: Europe Continued Percent Literate (ages 15+) 2000 Percent Enrolled in Secondary School 1985 Secondary School Female Male Female Male Female Male Italy Macedonia b Malta Portugal Slovenia Spain Yugoslavia Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Education 33

35 Education: Oceania Percent Literate (ages 15+) 2000 Percent Enrolled in Secondary School 1985 Secondary School Female Male Female Male Female Male OCEANIA Australia Fiji New Zealand Papua-New Guinea Notes: Data are unavailable Italics Data refer to year prior to that indicated * Data are excluded from regional averages z Less than 0.5 percent a Data do not include Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions (SAR) b Former Yugoslav Republic Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Education 34

36 2002 Women of Our World Political Leadership Around the world, women's lack of representation in government, especially high-level ministerial (executive) and legislative bodies, limits their influence over governance and public policies. Worldwide, women held only 14 percent of seats in parliaments in 2001, a slight increase from a decade earlier. In many countries in northern Africa and southern and western Asia, women hold fewer than 10 percent of seats in legislative bodies. There are a small number of exceptions: In Rwanda, Mozambique, Vietnam, and Cuba, women hold more than 25 percent of seats; and in Sweden, women hold 43 percent of parliamentary seats (see figure). Percent of Parliamentary Seats Held by Women, 2001 Sweden South Africa 30% 43% Vietnam 26% Mexico United States India 9% 14% 16% Brazil Nigeria Egypt 6% 3% 2% Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union, Women in National Parliaments as of October 12, In all but a few countries, women's representation in legislative bodies lags far behind their male counterparts. Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Political Leadership-35

37 Viewed over the long term, women have made some political progress: Over the last century, voting rights have been extended to women in all but a few countries. Women's right to equal participation in political life is guaranteed by a number of international conventions, notably the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which was adopted in 1979 but not ratified by all governments. Women have also become a growing part of the international political landscape, helped in part by the growing influence of women's groups in UN conferences such as the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development and the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women. These conferences concluded that more action was needed to increase women's participation in decisionmaking and entry into politics. Many of the political inroads women have made are due to gender quotas designed to seat more women in legislative bodies, from national parliaments to local village councils. A number of countries, including Brazil, France, India, the Philippines, and Uganda have established such quotas in the last decade. In South Africa, the proportion of women in Parliament rose from 1 percent to 30 percent following the establishment of a new constitution that promoted women's rights. Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Political Leadership-36

38 Leadership: World As Percent Ministerial and Sub- Women as Percent of Parliament Oct Ministerial Officials 1998 WORLD More Developed Less Developed 12 9 Less Developed (Excl. China) 11 9 Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Political Leadership-37

39 Leadership: Africa As Percent Ministerial and Sub- Women as Percent of Parliament Oct Ministerial Officials 1998 AFRICA 10 9 Sub-Saharan Africa Northern Africa 4 Algeria 4 5 Egypt 2 5 Libya 5 Morocco 1 6 Sudan 10 0 Tunisia 12 8 Western Africa 8 10 Benin 6 10 Burkina Faso Cape Verde Côte d'ivoire 9 3 Gambia 2 19 Ghana 9 9 Guinea 9 13 Guinea-Bissau 8 16 Liberia 11 7 Mali Mauritania 3 6 Niger 1 8 Nigeria 3 5 Senegal Sierra Leone 9 10 Togo 5 7 Eastern Africa Burundi 14 5 Comoros 4 Djibouti 0 3 Eritrea 15 6 Ethiopia 8 14 Kenya 4 7 Madagascar 8 14 Malawi 9 4 Mauritius 6 Mozambique Reunion Rwanda Somalia 0 Tanzania Uganda 13 Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Political Leadership-38

40 Leadership: Africa Continued As Percent Ministerial and Sub- Women as Percent of Parliament Oct Ministerial Officials 1998 Zambia Zimbabwe 10 9 Middle Africa 10 7 Angola Cameroon 6 6 Central African Republic 7 5 Chad 2 4 Congo 12 5 Congo, Dem. Rep. of Equatorial Guinea 5 4 Gabon 11 7 Southern Africa Botswana Lesotho Namibia South Africa 30 Swaziland 6 12 Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Political Leadership-39

41 Leadership: North America As Percent Ministerial and Sub- Women as Percent of Parliament Oct Ministerial Officials 1998 NORTH AMERICA Canada 24 United States Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Political Leadership-40

42 Leadership: Latin America and the Caribbean As Percent Ministerial and Sub- Women as Percent of Parliament Oct Ministerial Officials 1998 CARIBBEAN Central America Belize Costa Rica El Salvador Guatemala 9 10 Honduras 9 15 Mexico 16 7 Nicaragua Panama 10 5 Caribbean Bahamas Cuba 28 9 Dominican Republic Haiti 9 Jamaica Trinidad and Tobago South America Argentina 21 9 Bolivia 10 8 Brazil 6 12 Chile 9 10 Colombia Ecuador 15 9 Guyana Paraguay 8 7 Peru Suriname Uruguay Venezuela 10 5 Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Political Leadership-41

43 Leadership: Asia As Percent Ministerial and Sub- Women as Percent of Parliament Oct Ministerial Officials 1998 ASIA 13 5 Asia (Excl. China) 10 5 Western Asia 6 Armenia 3 4 Azerbaijan 10 6 Bahrain 1 Cyprus 11 3 Georgia 7 6 Iraq 8 0 Israel 13 7 Jordan 3 1 Kuwait 0 5 Lebanon 2 0 Oman 4 Qatar 0 Saudi Arabia 0 Syria 10 3 Turkey 4 13 United Arab Emirates 0 0 Yemen 1 0 South Central Asia 8 4 Afghanistan 0 Bangladesh 1 Bhutan 9 5 India 9 Iran 3 1 Kazakhstan 11 2 Kyrgyzstan 7 3 Maldives 6 10 Nepal 6 1 Pakistan 3 Sri Lanka 4 7 Tajikistan 12 6 Turkmenistan 26 3 Uzbekistan 7 5 Southeast Asia 13 6 Brunei 5 Cambodia 9 Indonesia 8 2 Laos 21 0 Malaysia Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Political Leadership-42

44 Leadership: Asia Continued As Percent Ministerial and Sub- Women as Percent of Parliament Oct Ministerial Officials 1998 Myanmar 0 Philippines 17 Singapore 6 7 Thailand 10 6 Vietnam 26 3 East Asia 20 2 China a 22 China, Hong Kong SAR Japan 2 Korea, North 20 Korea, South 6 Mongolia 11 2 Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Political Leadership-43

45 Leadership: Europe As Percent Ministerial and Sub- Women as Percent of Parliament Oct Ministerial Officials 1998 EUROPE Northern Europe Denmark Estonia Finland Ireland Latvia Lithuania Norway Sweden United Kingdom Western Europe 22 9 Austria 25 7 Belgium 25 5 France Germany 30 5 Luxembourg Netherlands Switzerland 22 9 Eastern Europe 11 9 Belarus 18 8 Bulgaria Czech Republic Hungary 8 11 Moldova Poland 11 Romania 10 9 Russia 6 5 Slovakia Ukraine 8 3 Southern Europe Albania 11 Bosnia-Herzegovina 5 6 Croatia Greece 9 6 Italy 9 10 Macedonia b 7 19 Malta 9 7 Portugal Slovenia Spain 27 7 Yugoslavia 6 7 Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Political Leadership-44

46 Leadership: Oceania As Percent Ministerial and Sub- Women as Percent of Parliament Oct Ministerial Officials 1998 OCEANIA Australia Fiji 15 New Zealand Papua-New Guinea 2 5 Notes: Data are unavailable Italics Data refer to year prior to that indicated * Data are excluded from regional averages z Less than 0.5 percent a Data do not include Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions (SAR) b Former Yugoslav Republic Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Political Leadership-45

47 2002 Women of Our World Reproductive Health Challenges Family Planning The ability to space and limit childbearing can increase women s autonomy and allow women and men greater control over their lives. Use of family planning also improves health by enabling women to bear children during the healthiest times for themselves and their children. About 57 percent of couples in the less developed world use family planning today, a dramatic increase from earlier decades (see figure 1). This increase in family planning use has brought about a marked and widespread decline in fertility. Figure 1 Contraceptive Use in Selected Countries, 1970s and 1990s Percent of married women using any method of contraception * Mexico Bangladesh Kenya Pakistan *Latest survey year. Sources: United Nations, Levels and Trends of Contraceptive Use as Assessed in 1998 ; and Demographic and Health Surveys from Contraceptive use has risen nearly everywhere in the developing world, leading to marked declines in fertility. Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Reproductive Health-46

48 Still, more than 100 million women in less developed countries would prefer to prevent a future pregnancy but are not using contraception. The reasons may vary. Many women and their husbands fear the side effects of contraceptive methods. Other women are dissuaded by their husbands disapproval or by family pressure to have more children. Some couples oppose contraception for religious reasons. Difficulties in obtaining contraceptives and a shortage of trained health personnel can restrict access to modern family planning methods. Studies have shown that providing a range of contraceptive methods, improving interactions between providers and clients, and informing family planning clients about the risks and benefits of contraceptive use can help couples achieve their reproductive goals. Safe Motherhood More than 500,000 women die every year from causes related to pregnancy, childbirth, and abortion. Ninety-nine percent of these deaths occur in less developed regions, particularly in Africa and Asia. The ratio of maternal deaths to live births varies greatly throughout the world from fewer than 10 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in many European countries to more than 1,400 deaths per 100,000 live births in some countries in sub-saharan Africa. In addition, for every woman who dies, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 30 suffer from long-term health problems such as infertility and damage to the reproductive organs. Though policymakers and health professionals are more aware of the problem and possible solutions than a decade ago, there is no evidence that maternal death rates have declined significantly. Maternal deaths are strongly associated with substandard health services and a lack of medical care during and immediately after childbirth (see figure 2). All pregnant women, even healthy women, face some risk of complications that cannot be predicted in advance but require skilled medical care when they arise. Yet only about half of deliveries in less developed countries take place in the presence of a skilled attendant a health professional such as a doctor, nurse, or midwife. Women often lack access to well-functioning transportation and health systems that would enable them to reach and obtain appropriate care in the event of life-threatening complications. The WHO estimates that 13 percent of maternal deaths result from complications of abortion. These complications arise from unsafe procedures, which usually occur where abortions are illegal or inaccessible. In countries where abortion is illegal or where safe abortion services are not available, women with unwanted pregnancies may seek clandestine abortion services or abortion drugs and other means of self-induced abortion. Many of these cases lead to injuries that require emergency care. Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Reproductive Health-47

49 Figure 2 Skilled Care at Delivery and Maternal Death Ratios, Selected Countries Niger Yemen Nepal Madagascar Indonesia Nicaragua Ecuador Tunisia Sri Lanka Malaysia Chile Percent of births attended by skilled personnel Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births Sources: UNICEF, End-of-Decade Database; and Demographic and Health Surveys, Women s deaths due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth are strongly associated with inadequate medical care at the time of delivery. HIV/AIDS The HIV/AIDS epidemic has had a profound impact on the lives of women, especially those whose economic dependence on men and low social status render them powerless to reject risky behaviors or negotiate preventive actions. Women and girls also provide the main sources of support for those suffering from the disease. Globally, women account for 48 percent of adults who are infected with HIV/AIDS. In sub-saharan Africa, however, where HIV is spread mainly through heterosexual activity, women account for 55 percent of adults infected with HIV. The situation is most severe for young women, who are becoming infected in far greater numbers than their male peers (see table). Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Reproductive Health-48

50 Young Women and Men Ages Living With HIV/AIDS Estimates as of December 2001 Region Young women Young men Sub-Saharan Africa 5,700,000 2,800,000 South and Southeast Asia 930, ,000 Latin America 170, ,000 North Africa and Near East 110,000 41,000 East Asia and Pacific 87, ,000 Eastern Europe and Central Asia 85, ,000 Caribbean 72,000 59,000 North America 47, ,000 Western Europe 33,000 55,000 World Total 7,300,000 4,500,000 Source: UNAIDS, Unpublished data, December In regions where HIV/AIDS is spread mainly through heterosexual activity, young women are becoming infected in far greater numbers than young men. Adolescent girls are vulnerable for both biological and social reasons. Young women are especially vulnerable to HIV infection for both biological and social reasons. Physiological differences make transmission of the virus through sexual contact more efficient from men to women than vice versa. Adolescent girls have an immature reproductive tract that makes them even more susceptible to infection. Girls and young women often have sex with older partners who have already been exposed to HIV, and they may lack the knowledge or self-confidence to resist sexual advances or persuade older men to use a condom. Poverty is also a factor, as girls and women may exchange sex for money or gifts. Studies in sub-saharan Africa have shown that young women are two to six times more likely than young men to contract HIV. Health experts are advocating ways to combat HIV that take into account the distinct social roles and circumstances of men and women for example, by giving information and counseling to women to help them gain negotiating skills. Governments and donor agencies are increasingly supporting initiatives that promote the human rights of women, including the right to have control over matters related to their sexuality. Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Reproductive Health-49

51 Reproductive Health: World Percent of Women Percent of Percent of Among Percent of Married Births Maternal Pop Pop Women Using Attended Deaths per Abortion With With Contraception by Skilled 100,000 Policy HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Total Modern Personnel Live Births 2000 end of 1999 WORLD More Developed Less Developed Less Developed (Excl. China) Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Reproductive Health-50

52 Reproductive Health: Africa Percent of Women Percent of Percent of Among Percent of Married Births Maternal Pop Pop Women Using Attended Deaths per Abortion With With Contraception by Skilled 100,000 Policy HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Total Modern Personnel Live Births 2000 end of 1999 AFRICA , Sub-Saharan Africa Northern Africa Algeria LH 0.1 Egypt I z Libya I 0.1 Morocco LH z Sudan ,500 IE 1 Tunisia L z Western Africa , Benin I Burkina Faso ,400 LH Cape Verde L Côte d'ivoire ,200 I Gambia ,100 LH 2 Ghana LH Guinea ,200 LH Guinea-Bissau I Liberia 1,000 LH Mali I 2 55 Mauritania I Niger I Nigeria ,100 I Senegal ,200 I Sierra Leone 2,100 LH 3 55 Togo I 6 55 Eastern Africa , Burundi 19 1,900 LH Comoros LH 0.1 Djibouti 520 LH Eritrea ,100 LH 2.9 Ethiopia ,800 LH Kenya ,300 I Madagascar I Malawi I Mauritius I 0.1 Mozambique LH Population Reference Bureau 2002 Women of Our World Reproductive Health-51