While many countries close the gender gap Australia continues to mark time in 2009

The World Economic Forum has released its Global Gender Gap Report for 2009.

"Women and girls make up one half of the human resources available to the world and it will be imperative that they are educated, empowered and integrated for a rapid economic recovery"
Saadia Zahidi, Director and Head of Constituents, World Economic Forum

This is Australia's ranking in the 2009 Gender Gap Index:

Australia 2009 20 (rank out of 134 countries) 0.7282 (score) 20 (2009 rank among 2008 countries)

Australia 2008 21 (rank out of 130 countries) 0.7241 (score)

Australia 2007 17 (rank out of 128 countries) 0.7204 (score)

Australia 2006 15 (rank out of 115 countries) 0.7163 (score)

(The Global Gender Gap Index 2009 rankings: Comparisons with 2008, 2007 and 2006)

The Index reports that two-thirds of the 115 countries covered since 2006 have improved markers used to measure gender inequality, but Australia is clearly lagging according to these figures. Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, New Zealand, South Africa, Denmark, Ireland, Philippines, Lesotho, Netherlands, Germany,Switzerland, Latvia, United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Spain, France, Trinidad and Tobago all have a better record in 2009 than Australia.

Country profile for Australia here.

Full report here.

According to its own website: The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas. Incorporated as a foundation in 1971, and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum is impartial and not-for-profit; it is tied to no political, partisan or national interests. (www.weforum.org)