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Women's right to take a job without permission

What this indicator measures

The law is examined on three points: no restriction on a woman's ability to pursue a profession, no permission required from a husband or guardian, and no penalty (such as the loss of alimony) if she works against her family's wishes. Data from the 2026 edition of “Women, Business and the Law”, which describes the written laws in force on 1 October 2025 (not their actual enforcement or uncodified customs).

How to read this?

“Same right” means that all three conditions are met.

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186countries with data
2025data year(s)

In brief

Women's right to take a job without permission: 186 countries and territories covered. Breakdown: Same right as men : 168 ; Not the same right : 18.

Why this indicator matters

Being able to work without asking a relative's permission is a basic condition of economic autonomy. This indicator compares the laws that govern women's employment.

What makes this indicator vary

These rules often come from old civil or family codes, reformed at different paces. Changes depend on legal history, traditions and successive revisions of family and labor law.

Reading precautions

The data describe written laws, not their enforcement or uncodified customs. The right is judged “the same” only if three conditions are met. The reference date of the texts may already be outdated.

Women's right to take a job without permission

Same right as men (168)

Not the same right (18)

Frequently asked questions

Where does the "Women's right to take a job without permission" data come from?

It comes from Banque mondiale – Women, Business and the Law (WBL 2.0). Site last updated: November 8, 2026. Each country is shown with the year of its most recent value.

What does this indicator check?

It checks three points: no restriction on pursuing a profession, no permission required from a husband or guardian, and no penalty if the woman works against her family's wishes.

Does “Not the same right” mean that women do not work?

No. It means that at least one of the legal conditions is not met. The law does not say how many women actually work.

Source and update

Source : Banque mondiale – Women, Business and the Law (WBL 2.0). Site last updated: November 8, 2026.

Indicators in the same category : Women's rights