THEJAPANNEWS

Japan came in 104th in the World Economic Forum’s gender equality rankings for 2014, up from 105th the previous year but still far behind other major industrialized nations, the Geneva-based group said Tuesday.
 
Iceland ranked top for the sixth straight year.
 
The WEF, organizer of the annual Davos meeting of business and political leaders, compiled the rankings based on its survey on gaps between men and women in four categories. This year’s survey covered 142 countries, up by six from the previous year.
 
Japan ranked 37th in the health and survival category, 93rd in educational attainment, 102nd in economic participation and opportunity, and 129th in political empowerment.
 
The poor rating for political empowerment came as the number of female lawmakers in Japan remains low.