Recent findings from the Women, Business and the Law 2026 report highlight significant disparities in economic gender equality across African nations. While some countries have made remarkable progress, Chad continues to lag behind in securing equal economic rights for women.
Chad’s standing in the continental ranking
In the latest assessment, Chad ranks 36th out of 54 African economies, achieving a score of 51.40 out of 100. This places it just below Burundi (35th with 52.68 points) and slightly ahead of Botswana and Nigeria, which are tied at 37th position with 51.10 points. The country remains firmly in the lower half of the regional ranking, far from the leaders in gender equality.
Top performers in Africa
The top spot is held by Mauritius with a score of 82.30 points, followed by Togo in second place with 79.33 points and Côte d’Ivoire in third with 78.25 points. Zambia and South Africa also feature prominently in the top five. These nations owe much of their success to bold legislative reforms addressing mobility, employment, marriage laws, and entrepreneurship.
Chad’s gaps in economic gender equality
With a score well below both the African and global averages (around 67 points), Chad faces persistent challenges in women’s economic participation. While the country has taken steps to combat sexual harassment in public spaces, critical gaps remain in areas such as access to credit, workplace discrimination protections, parental rights, and inheritance laws. These deficiencies disproportionately affect women, who make up a significant portion of the labor force—particularly in agriculture and informal sectors.
Law versus enforcement: a persistent challenge
One of the most pressing issues highlighted in the report is the stark contrast between progressive legislation and its actual enforcement. Globally, only about half of the laws designed to promote gender equality are effectively implemented. For Chad, this gap underscores the need for targeted reforms to strengthen property rights, financial access, and protection against violence—key areas that could unlock greater economic opportunities for women and foster more inclusive growth.