Swiss climb gender equality ladder

Switzerland has managed to significantly close its "gender gap", according to a survey by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

It rose from 40th place to 14th in the table of 130 countries largely due to a greater representation of women in parliament and the government.

The progress follows a fall of 12 places last year caused by differences in salaries between men and women in Switzerland.

For the second year running, Norway topped the league of countries in closing the gender gap. Finland, Sweden and Iceland came second, third and fourth respectively. Saudi Arabia, Chad and Yemen were the least equal.

The WEF index surveyed economic participation (jobs, salaries and positions), educational attainment, political empowerment and health and survival.

Averaging 130 national scores, the report found that girls and women have reached near-parity with their male peers in educational attainment, health and survival, in both rich and poor countries.

But economically, in terms of workforce participation and earning opportunities, and politically, in terms of empowerment, the gap between the sexes remains large.