You may have already received the perfect gift for 8th March – а trip to Italy, Spain or Portugal. Or you spent Women’s Day planning a crazy spring visit to Rome with your friends.
The good news: each of these evergreen destinations is not only a home of art, amazing wine and tempting food. Portugal, Italy, and Spain are among the best countries in the world to live in for women, according to a 2018 ranking from US News & World Report.
The media organisation researched more than 9,000 ladies from 80 countries around the world and determined which are the most welcoming places when it comes to five important social attributes: human rights, gender equality, income equality, progress and safety.
Portugal, Italy, and Spain rank 20, 19, and 18 respectively. And while their hot energy is the first thing that shapes our travel instinct, the first places in the ranking are occupied by “colder” countries.
As always, Denmark, Sweden and Norway are the best countries because of their high levels of equality and sophisticated social services. The Scandinavian countries can boast not only human rights, but also super flexible parental leave policies.
The next two countries in the ranking are the Netherlands (where benefits for women include a maternity nurse to mothers) and another Scandinavian destination – Finland (the first European country to introduce rights for women to vote and to be elected for Parliament in 1906).
Canada, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand and Germany are the other perfect environments for women, according to ranking. You know that New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is the world’s youngest female head of government, having become leader at age 37.
Luxembourg, Austria, United Kingdom, France, Ireland, United States and Japan are also among the Top 20 countries with a strong potential for women’s progress. You can see the full ranking here.
