Finland has ranked fourth on an index about gender equality among EU countries, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health announced on Monday.
Results of the index are regularly compiled by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE).
The Gender Equality Index examines six core domains: work, money, knowledge, time, power and health. It also looked at violence against women and intersecting inequalities. In all, the index used 31 different indicators to measure equality levels.
Finland's score in the rankings were above the EU average, but ranked below those in Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands.
The index measures gender equality on a scale of 1 to 100. The EU's overall index currently stands at 68. That figure represents an increase of 0.6 points from the previous index and an increase of 5.5 points compared to 2010, according to the ministry.
Finland's total points reached 75.4, nearly seven points higher than the EU average. Finland's ranking has risen by 2.3 points since 2010. According to the EIGE's classification, Finland has a higher national point ranking than the EU average, but improvements in the Nordic country are slower than the EU average.
The index is meant to track gender equality measures in order to shape effective policy making, according to the EIGE.
Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality Thomas Blomqvist (SPP) said this year's results of the index were anticipated.
"The positive side of the results is that we have moved forward. But it should be moving more quickly. During this government's term, we have implemented many reforms that improve equality and we have made long-term goals for the future, but it will take time before they show results. The most important thing is that we do not move backwards and that we continue to work for equality," Blomqvist said in a ministry statement.
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