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Girls & Women

These Are the Most and Least Tolerant Countries in 2016

By Meghan Werft|

According to the Legatum Prosperity Index, a measure for global prosperity, the way to measure personal freedom is through accounting for tolerance, accepting others, legal rights, and the amount an individual has and feels freedom. This is one of the cornerstones to creating a prosperous society, and a cause we’re serious about supporting. Global Citizen and CHIME FOR CHANGE fight for the legal rights of girls and women through our Level the Law campaign.

Luxembourg, a country with a population of just over half a million people, ranks No. 1 for social tolerance, legal rights, and basic human freedoms in addition to topping the health chart. Canada comes in second, thanks to gender equality efforts from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Also noteworthy is Uruguay, the only Latin American country to make the top 10 list.

Read More: Malala and Other Nobel Laureates Accuse Myanmar of Ethnic Cleansing in Open Letter

Regions torn apart by conflict such as Sudan and Afghanistan sadly continue to endure the burden of restricted human rights, especially when it comes to  gender equality. However, willful women such as MalalaYousafzai (of Pakistan,) Nadia Murad (of Iraq) and Razia Jan (of Afghanistan,) pursue the rights of girls and women through the powerful tool of education each day.

There are so many figures in our history that did not believe they could make a change, and they did.” - Malala Yousafzai

Afghanistan, Sudan, Yemen, Egypt, and Iran rank the lowest for personal freedom in society. Russia comes in at 141 of 149 countries for the ninth lowest score on personal freedom followed by Iraq and China. 

10 Most Tolerant Countries of 2016

1. Luxembourg

2. Canada

3. New Zealand

4. Iceland

5. Ireland

6. Uruguay

7. Netherlands

8. Finland  

9. Belgium

10. Portugal  

10 Least Tolerant Countries of 2016

1. Afghanistan

2. Sudan

3. Yemen

4. Egypt

5. Iran

6. Libya

7. Mauritania  

8. Central African Republic

9. Russia

10. Democratic Republic of Congo   

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