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| Switzerland | |
 Flag of Switzerland | |
| Population (in Mil.) | 7.6 |
 Sex Ratio (m/f)
| 0,97 |
 Life Expectancy Ratio (f/m)
| 1.06 |
 Fertility Rate
| 1.45 |
 Income Ratio (f/m)
| 0.62 |
 Literacy Ratio (f/m)
| n/a |
 Tertiary Enrolment Ratio (f/m)
| 0,8 |
 Women in Parliament (in %)
| 25 |
| SIGI Rank | - |
| More information on variables | |
Contents |
Overview
Despite real progress to promote gender equality in Switzerland, discrimination at work and in the legal system mean that Swiss women are still worse off than some of their European neighbours. The labour market needs to be reformed and wage discrepancies – averaging 20 per cent - are still a reason for concern.
Legislation
A Law for Equality between Women and Men came into force in 1996. In 2002, the federal government decided to realise a Swiss action-plan which reflects the decisions put forward by the fourth UN World Conference on Women held in 1995. The aim of the action plan is to encourage equal access to power and decision-making positions on every level, to turn professional equality into reality, to elaborate a prevention and intervention programme on violence against women and to guarantee equality of opportunities in the education of boys and girls. Furthermore, the action plan calls for the collection, analysis and distribution of gender statistics and qualitative studies as well as the promotion of a non-stereotyped image of women and men in the media.
Education
In 2001, women accounted for 48 per cent of university students. However, they are still frequently under-represented in the higher education and R&D sectors. Some political measures and grants have been introduced to bring more women into these fields. Specific programmes for the cultural sector are not included in the action-plan.
Political Empowerment
Women received the right to vote only in 1971, much later than in other industrialised countries. Although women's political empowerment has improved, women are still under-represented in political life. The country only ranks 26th in the world when it comes to women in parliament.
The Women, Business and the Law
Where are laws equal for men and women? 
The Women, Business and the Law report presents indicators based on laws and regulations affecting women's prospects as entrepreneurs and employees. Several of these indicators draw on the Gender Law Library, a collection of over 2,000 legal provisions impacting women's economic status. This report does not seek to judge or rank countries, but to provide information to inform discussions about women’s economic rights. Covering 128 economies, Women, Business and the Law provides data covering 6 areas: accessing institutions,using property, getting a job, dealing with taxes, building credit, and going to court.Read more about the methodology.
For detailed information on Switzerland, please visit the Women, Business and
the Law Switzerland page.
