Female entrepreneurship rates are increasing globally according to a recent report. The highest rates of female entrepreneurs are held currently by Africa.
This year has shown a 10% increase from last year in women’s entrepreneurial activity across the globe. This increase also close the overall gender gap by 5 percent since 2014.
The statistics above are provided from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2016/2017 from the Women’s Report that was released this week.
Throughout the whole region of Africa, there is a recorded percentage of 25.9 of the female population that is actively engaged in early-stage entrepreneurial activity.
Going more in depth, Senegal proved to be the highest performer with a total of 36.8 percent, while South Africa has the lowest percentage in the region with only 5.9 percent of its population being women entrepreneurs.
Most, approximately 61.8 percent, of the female entrepreneurs in Africa are primarily jumping on the opportunity to start a business in Africa, rather than seeing it as a necessity.
Donna Kelley, Babson College professor and report co-author, said, “This not only shows the magnitude of impact women entrepreneurs have across the globe, but highlights the contribution they make toward the growth and well-being of their societies.”
She continued to say, “Women entrepreneurs provide incomes for their families, employment for those in their communities, and products and services that bring new value to the world around them.”