Third Billion Index, 2012

Booz & Company created the Third Billion Index, a ranking of 128 countries worldwide that is based on how effectively leaders are empowering women as economic agents in the marketplace. The index is a composite of established data on women’s economic and social status. The Third Billion Index is unique in that it focuses specifically on women in the world of work.

As growing numbers of women enter the economic mainstream, they will have a profound effect on global business.

A huge and fast-growing group of people are poised to take their place in the economic mainstream over the next decade, as employees, employers, producers, and entrepreneurs. This group’s impact on the global economy will be at least as significant as that of the billion-plus populations in both China and India. But its members have not yet attracted the attention they deserve. China and India each represent 1 billion emerging participants in the global marketplace, and this group of the same size, this “third billion,” is made up of women, in both developing and industrialized nations.

Third Billion Index relies on two sub indices.

Inputs: Assess government and private sector to improve the economic position of women

Outputs:Represents observable aspects of women's participation in the national economy.

Source: Third Billion Index 2012