From Scandinavia to the Caribbean, a new list reveals the best places in the world to be a successful woman.

Ahead of International Women’s Day on Thursday 8th March, The Independent on Sunday's list of the best – and worst - places to be a woman in the world today makes interesting reading.

Based on data from the World Economic Forum’s 2011 study, the list reveals where in the world women can be most successful – whether that’s as a mother, a journalist, drive a car or be a lady of leisure. There’s been much talk of late of how good the Scandinavians have it in comparison to us in the UK, and the list resoundingly confirms that with Iceland ranking number one overall as the best place to be a woman as it has the greatest equality between the two sexes, taking into account politics, education, employment and health. The UK ranked at number 16 – down one from 2010’s list.

Thinking of having kids? Head to Greece to give birth – it’s the world’s safest place with a one in 31,800 risk of dying in childbirth – then head to Norway to raise them. For working women, the best places to find success include the sunny Caribbean for journalists (nice work if you can get it!), Rwanda for those with a political leaning and Sri Lanka for budding heads of state, while Luxembourg is best for those wanting to earn a pile of cash as women and men are likely to earn the same amount (when income is capped at $40,000).

Those wanting to take it a little easier should head to Denmark – women there have two hours more leisure time than women in the UK, doing an average of just 57 more minutes each day on unpaid work than men.

Best place to be a woman