Chad ranks 36th in africa for women’s economic rights

Chad’s progress and challenges in women’s economic rights

The Women, Business and the Law 2026 report by the World Bank reveals a mixed picture of economic gender equality across Africa. While some nations have made significant strides, Chad continues to lag behind in this critical area.

Where does Chad stand in the continental ranking?

Chad holds the 36th position among 54 African countries, scoring 51.40 out of 100. It ranks just behind Burundi (35th with 52.68 points) and ahead of Botswana and Nigeria, both tied at the 37th spot with 51.10 points. This places the country firmly in the lower half of the continental ranking, far from the leaders.

Top performers driving legislative reforms

The island nation of Mauritius leads the pack with 82.30 points, followed closely by Togo in second place with 79.33 points. Côte d’Ivoire takes the third spot with 78.25 points, while Zambia and South Africa round out the top five. These countries have achieved their high rankings through bold legislative reforms focused on mobility, employment, marriage, and entrepreneurship.

Chad, with its score of 51.40, falls below both the African average (around 67 points) and the global average. However, the report acknowledges a positive step forward in the area of safety, thanks to the introduction of legislation against sexual harassment in public spaces.

Key areas needing improvement in Chad

Despite this progress, Chad faces persistent challenges in several critical areas:

• Credit access: Women continue to struggle to secure loans and financial resources.
• Workplace discrimination: Protections against gender-based discrimination in employment remain insufficient.
• Parental rights: Laws governing parental leave and childcare support are inadequate.
• Property and inheritance rights: Women’s rights to own and inherit property are not fully recognized or protected.

These gaps significantly hinder the economic participation of Chadian women, who make up the majority of the workforce, particularly in agriculture and the informal sector.

The gap between laws and their enforcement

The report highlights a widespread issue across Africa: a substantial disconnect between laws that promote gender equality and their actual implementation. Globally, only 50% of favorable equality laws are effectively enforced, underscoring the need for stronger enforcement mechanisms.

For Chad, this ranking serves as both a diagnostic tool and a call to action. Targeted reforms in property rights, financial access, and violence prevention could create a more enabling environment for women, fostering more inclusive economic growth.