However, and despite the existence of a legal framework to promote gender equality and the higher average educational level of females, gender gaps in labour market outcomes are sizeable. In particular, female participation and employment rates are lower than for males. They suffer more from unemployment and those employed receive lower wages (Figure 1.16). The working age population is defined as those aged above 12 in urban areas and above 10 in rural areas and is expressed as a share of total population. The participation rate is defined as the share of the labour force to the working age population.