MANILA, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines retains its rank as the sixth most woman-friendly country in the world, the latest study by Switzerland-based World Economic Forum (WEF) showed, according to local media Friday.

    In the Global Gender Gap Index 2007 study, the WEF showed that the Philippines in sixth place achieved a gender equality score of 0.7629, from its score of 0.7516 in 2006, Philippine television network GMA News said.

    The Philippines was the only Asian country included in the study's top 10, which was dominated by European countries. Topping the list was Sweden, followed by Norway, Finland, Iceland and New Zealand. Following the Philippines in the rankings were Germany, Denmark, Ireland, and Spain.

    The Global Gender Gap Index included 115 countries.

    The poll's criteria includes educational attainment gap, outcomes on access to basic and higher education level; political empowerment gap, outcomes on representation in decision-making structures; economic participation gap, outcomes on salaries, participation levels and access to high-skilled employment; and health and survival, outcomes on life expectancy and sex ratio.