World Bank: Women's Economic-Opportunity Laws Only Half Enforced Globally
Mar 1st 2026
A new World Bank report shows many countries have legal reforms for women but enforcement is inconsistent, meaning laws often do not translate into better economic opportunities.
- The Women, Business and the Law report finds economic-opportunity laws for women are enforced at roughly 50 percent worldwide.
- The report assesses both the presence of equal laws on the books and the extent to which those laws are actually implemented.
- Weak enforcement limits the real-world impact of legal reforms on women's access to jobs, credit, markets, and property rights.
- Closing the gap requires stronger implementation, monitoring, and government accountability supported by data and partners.