Flagship Report

Women, Business and the Law 2024 is the tenth in a series of annual studies measuring the enabling environment for women’s economic opportunity in 190 economies. This year, the study presents two sets of data: Women, Business and the Law 1.0 and an expanded version, Women, Business and the Law 2.0. 

Women, Business and the Law 1.0 updates its index of eight indicators. Women, Business and the Law 2.0 introduces a new framework for measuring the implementation gap. It analyzes laws—de jure— and examines the existence of frameworks supporting implementation of the law and gauges experts’ opinions on the outcome of the law for women—de facto. Women, Business and the Law 2.0 introduces two new indicators – Safety and Childcare – and revises its ongoing indicators. 

 Women, Business and the Law 2023 is the ninth in a series of annual studies measuring the laws and regulations that affect women’s economic opportunity in 190 economies. It identifies barriers to women’s economic participation and encourages reform of discriminatory laws. This year, the study also includes research, a literature review, and analysis of 53 years of reforms for women’s rights and makes an important contribution to research and policy discussions about the state of women’s economic empowerment.

Women, Business and the Law 2022 is the eighth in a series of annual reports measuring the laws and regulations that affect women’s economic opportunity in 190 economies. Women, Business and the Law makes the case for reform toward gender equality and highlights the way toward a more equitable and prosperous world. This year, the report also includes important pilot research on the legal frameworks surrounding the availability, affordability, and quality of childcare, and preliminary results of pilot efforts to examine the implementation of the laws measured by the Women, Business and the Law indicators.

Women, Business and the Law 2021 is the seventh in a series of annual reports measuring the laws and regulations that affect women’s economic opportunity in 190 economies. Amidst a global pandemic that threatens progress toward gender equality, the report identifies barriers to women’s economic participation and encourages reform of discriminatory laws. This year, the report also includes important findings on government responses to the COVID-19 crisis and pilot research related to childcare and women’s access to justice.

Women, Business and the Law 2020 analyzes laws and regulations affecting women's economic inclusion in 190 economies. While celebrating the progress made, the data and analysis emphasize the work still to be done to ensure economic empowerment for all.

This study examines ten years of Women, Business and the Law data through an index structured around economic decisions women make as they go through different stages of their working lives.