Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments (%) - Country Ranking

Definition: Women in parliaments are the percentage of parliamentary seats in a single or lower chamber held by women.

Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) (www.ipu.org).

See also: Thematic map, Time series comparison

Find indicator:
Rank Country Value Year
1 Rwanda 61.25 2021
2 Cuba 53.41 2021
3 Nicaragua 50.55 2021
4 Mexico 50.00 2021
4 United Arab Emirates 50.00 2021
6 New Zealand 49.17 2021
7 Iceland 47.62 2021
8 Sweden 46.99 2021
9 Grenada 46.67 2021
10 South Africa 46.58 2021
11 Andorra 46.43 2021
12 Bolivia 46.15 2021
13 Finland 46.00 2021
14 Costa Rica 45.61 2021
15 Norway 44.97 2021
16 Argentina 44.75 2021
17 Namibia 44.23 2021
18 Spain 43.43 2021
19 Senegal 43.03 2021
20 Ethiopia 42.59 2021
21 Switzerland 42.50 2021
22 Mozambique 42.40 2021
23 Belgium 42.00 2021
24 North Macedonia 41.67 2021
25 Austria 40.44 2021
26 Peru 40.00 2021
26 Belarus 40.00 2021
26 Portugal 40.00 2021
29 Denmark 39.66 2021
30 Moldova 39.60 2021
31 France 39.51 2021
32 Ecuador 39.42 2021
33 Netherlands 39.33 2021
34 Serbia 39.20 2021
35 Cabo Verde 38.89 2021
36 Timor-Leste 38.46 2021
37 Burundi 38.21 2021
38 Tanzania 36.86 2021
39 Guyana 35.71 2021
39 Albania 35.71 2021
39 Italy 35.71 2021
42 Chile 35.48 2021
43 Luxembourg 35.00 2021
44 Germany 34.92 2021
45 Dominica 34.38 2021
46 United Kingdom 34.26 2021
47 Cameroon 33.89 2021
48 Uganda 33.81 2021
49 Armenia 33.64 2021
50 San Marino 33.33 2021
50 Monaco 33.33 2021
52 Nepal 32.73 2021
53 Uzbekistan 32.65 2021
54 Chad 32.26 2021
55 Zimbabwe 31.85 2021
56 Croatia 31.13 2021
56 Australia 31.13 2021
58 Sudan 30.52 2018
59 Canada 30.47 2021
60 Vietnam 30.26 2021
61 Singapore 29.81 2021
62 Angola 29.55 2021
63 Suriname 29.41 2021
64 Latvia 29.00 2021
65 Iraq 28.88 2021
66 Jamaica 28.57 2021
67 Israel 28.33 2021
68 Poland 28.32 2021
69 Liechtenstein 28.00 2021
70 Philippines 27.96 2021
71 Dominican Republic 27.89 2021
72 Egypt 27.70 2021
73 Lithuania 27.66 2021
74 United States 27.65 2021
75 El Salvador 27.38 2021
76 Honduras 27.34 2021
77 Mali 27.27 2021
78 Kazakhstan 27.10 2021
79 Afghanistan 27.02 2021
80 Slovenia 26.67 2021
81 Tunisia 26.27 2021
82 Trinidad and Tobago 26.19 2021
82 Bosnia and Herzegovina 26.19 2021
84 Djibouti 26.15 2021
85 Niger 25.90 2021
86 Estonia 25.74 2021
87 Turkmenistan 25.00 2021
87 St. Kitts and Nevis 25.00 2021
87 Czech Republic 25.00 2021
90 China 24.94 2021
91 Montenegro 24.69 2021
92 Somalia 24.36 2021
93 Uruguay 24.24 2021
94 Tajikistan 23.81 2021
95 Bulgaria 23.75 2021
96 São Tomé and Principe 23.64 2021
97 Lesotho 23.33 2021
98 Equatorial Guinea 23.00 2021
99 Malawi 22.92 2021
100 Seychelles 22.86 2021
101 Morocco 22.78 2021
102 Slovak Republic 22.67 2021
103 Panama 22.54 2021
104 Ireland 22.50 2021
105 Venezuela 22.16 2021
106 Eritrea 22.00 2019
107 Lao PDR 21.95 2021
108 Greece 21.67 2021
109 Kenya 21.61 2021
110 Cambodia 21.60 2021
111 Fiji 21.57 2021
112 Indonesia 21.04 2021
113 Bangladesh 20.86 2021
114 Ukraine 20.80 2021
115 Kyrgyz Republic 20.45 2021
116 Mauritania 20.26 2021
117 Pakistan 20.18 2021
118 Mauritius 20.00 2021
118 Barbados 20.00 2021
120 Saudi Arabia 19.87 2021
121 Guatemala 19.38 2021
122 Georgia 19.33 2021
123 Korea 19.00 2021
124 Colombia 18.82 2021
125 Togo 18.68 2021
126 Romania 18.54 2021
127 Azerbaijan 18.18 2021
127 St. Vincent and the Grenadines 18.18 2021
129 The Bahamas 17.95 2021
130 Madagascar 17.88 2021
131 Dem. People's Rep. Korea 17.61 2021
132 Turkey 17.33 2021
133 Mongolia 17.11 2021
134 Bhutan 17.02 2021
135 Comoros 16.67 2021
135 Guinea 16.67 2020
137 Paraguay 16.25 2021
138 Russia 16.22 2021
139 Gabon 16.20 2021
140 Libya 15.96 2021
141 Thailand 15.75 2021
142 Myanmar 15.29 2021
143 Brazil 15.20 2021
144 Zambia 15.06 2021
145 Bahrain 15.00 2021
146 Malaysia 14.86 2021
147 Ghana 14.55 2021
148 India 14.44 2021
149 Cyprus 14.29 2021
150 Côte d'Ivoire 14.17 2021
151 Guinea-Bissau 13.73 2021
152 Malta 13.43 2021
153 Hungary 13.07 2021
154 Central African Republic 12.86 2021
155 Dem. Rep. Congo 12.80 2021
156 Belize 12.50 2021
157 Sierra Leone 12.33 2021
158 Jordan 11.54 2021
159 Congo 11.26 2021
160 Syrian Arab Republic 11.20 2021
161 Antigua and Barbuda 11.11 2021
161 St. Lucia 11.11 2021
163 Liberia 10.96 2021
164 Botswana 10.77 2021
165 Nauru 10.53 2021
166 Japan 9.68 2021
167 Eswatini 9.59 2021
168 Brunei 9.09 2021
169 The Gambia 8.62 2021
170 Benin 8.43 2021
171 Algeria 8.11 2021
172 Solomon Islands 8.00 2021
173 Samoa 7.84 2021
174 Kiribati 6.67 2021
175 Burkina Faso 6.30 2021
176 Palau 6.25 2021
176 Tuvalu 6.25 2021
178 Iran 5.59 2021
179 Sri Lanka 5.38 2021
180 Lebanon 4.69 2021
181 Qatar 4.44 2021
182 Nigeria 3.61 2021
183 Haiti 2.54 2019
184 Oman 2.33 2021
185 Kuwait 1.54 2021
186 Yemen 0.00 2021
186 Tonga 0.00 2021
186 Papua New Guinea 0.00 2021
186 Vanuatu 0.00 2021

More rankings: Africa | Asia | Central America & the Caribbean | Europe | Middle East | North America | Oceania | South America | World |

Development Relevance: Despite much progress in recent decades, gender inequalities remain pervasive in many dimensions of life - worldwide. But while disparities exist throughout the world, they are most prevalent in developing countries. Gender inequalities in the allocation of such resources as education, health care, nutrition, and political voice matter because of the strong association with well-being, productivity, and economic growth. These patterns of inequality begin at an early age, with boys routinely receiving a larger share of education and health spending than do girls, for example. Women are vastly underrepresented in decision-making positions in government, although there is some evidence of recent improvement. Gender parity in parliamentary representation is still far from being realized. Without representation at this level, it is difficult for women to influence policy. A strong and vibrant democracy is possible only when parliament is fully inclusive of the population it represents. Parliaments cannot consider themselves inclusive, however, until they can boast the full participation of women. This is not just about women's right to equality and their contribution to the conduct of public affairs, but also about using women's resources and potential to determine political and development priorities that benefit societies and the global community.

Limitations and Exceptions: The number of countries covered varies with suspensions or dissolutions of parliaments. There can be difficulties in obtaining information on by-election results and replacements due to death or resignation. These changes are ad hoc events which are more difficult to keep track of. By-elections, for instance, are often not announced internationally as general elections are. Parliaments vary considerably in their internal workings and procedures, however, generally legislate, oversee government and represent the electorate. In terms of measuring women's contribution to political decision making, this indicator may not be sufficient because some women may face obstacles in fully and efficiently carrying out their parliamentary mandate. The data is compiled by the Inter-Parliamentary Union on the basis of information provided by National Parliaments. The percentages do not take into account the case of parliaments for which no data was available at that date. Information is available in all countries where a national legislature exists and therefore does not include parliaments that have been dissolved or suspended for an indefinite period.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: The proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments is the number of seats held by women members in single or lower chambers of national parliaments, expressed as a percentage of all occupied seats; it is derived by dividing the total number of seats occupied by women by the total number of seats in parliament. National parliaments can be bicameral or unicameral. This indicator covers the single chamber in unicameral parliaments and the lower chamber in bicameral parliaments. It does not cover the upper chamber of bicameral parliaments. Seats are usually won by members in general parliamentary elections. Seats may also be filled by nomination, appointment, indirect election, rotation of members and by-election. Seats refer to the number of parliamentary mandates, or the number of members of parliament.

Aggregation method: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

General Comments: General cut off date is end-December. Relevance to gender indicator: Women are vastly underrepresented in decision making positions in government, although there is some evidence of recent improvement. Gender parity in parliamentary representation is stil