Women in National Parliaments
Situation as of 1 January 1997

World and regional averages The data in the table below has been compiled by the Inter-Parliamentary Union on the basis of information provided by National Parliaments by 1 January 1997. 177 countries are classified by descending order of the percentage of women in the lower or single House. Comparative data on the world and regional averages as well as data concerning the two regional parliamentary assemblies elected by direct suffrage can be found on separate pages. You can use the PARLINE database to view detailed results of parliamentary elections by country. Regional parliamentary assemblies
New: you can now consult an archive of statistical data on women in National Parliaments.

World Classification
RankCountryLower or single HouseUpper House or Senate
ElectionsSeatsWomen% WElectionsSeatsWomen% W
1 Sweden 09 1994 349 141 40.4 --- --- --- ---
2 Norway 09 1993 165 65 39.4 --- --- --- ---
3 Finland 03 1995 200 67 33.5 --- --- --- ---
4 Denmark 09 1994 179 59 33.0 --- --- --- ---
5 Netherlands 05 1994 150 47 31.3 --- --- --- ---
6 New Zealand 10 1996 120 35 29.2 --- --- --- ---
7 Seychelles 07 1993 33 9 27.3 --- --- --- ---
8 Austria 12 1995 183 49 26.8 11 1994 64 13 20.3
9 Germany 10 1994 672 176 26.2 10 1994 68 13 19.1
10 Iceland 04 1995 63 16 25.4 --- --- --- ---
11 Argentina 05 1995 257 65 25.3 12 1995 72 2 2.8
12 Mozambique 10 1994 250 63 25.2 --- --- --- ---
13 South Africa 04 1994 400 100 25.0 04 1994 90 16 17.8
14 Spain 03 1996 350 86 24.6 03 1996 256 34 13.3
15 Cuba 02 1993 589 134 22.8 --- --- --- ---
16 China 1992-93 2978 626 21.0 --- --- --- ---
" Eritrea 02 1994 105 22 21.0 --- --- --- ---
" Switzerland 10 1995 200 42 21.0 10 1995 46 8 17.4
17 Dem. People's Rep. of Korea 04 1990 687 138 20.1 --- --- --- ---
18 Grenada 06 1995 15 3 20.0 06 1995 13 ? ?
" Guyana 10 1992 65 13 20.0 --- --- --- ---
" Luxembourg 06 1994 60 12 20.0 --- --- --- ---
19 Viet Nam 07 1992 395 73 18.5 --- --- --- ---
20 Namibia 12 1994 72 13 18.1 12 1994 26 ? ?
" Uganda 06 1996 276 50 18.1 --- --- --- ---
21 Canada 10 1993 295 53 18.0 1994 104 24 23.1
" Turkmenistan 12 1994 50 9 18.0 --- --- --- ---
22 Lithuania 10 1996 137 24 17.5 --- --- --- ---
" United Rep. of Tanzania 10 1995 275 48 17.5 --- --- --- ---
23 Chad 04 1993 52 9 17.3 --- --- --- ---
24 Rwanda 11 1994 70 12 17.1 --- --- --- ---
25 Costa Rica 02 1994 57 9 15.8 --- --- --- ---
26 Suriname 05 1996 51 8 15.7 --- --- --- ---
27 Australia 03 1996 148 23 15.5 03 1996 76 23 30.3
28 Czech Republic 05 1996 200 30 15.0 11 1996 81 ? ?
29 Slovakia 10 1994 150 22 14.7 --- --- --- ---
" Zimbabwe 04 1995 150 22 14.7 --- --- --- ---
30 Mexico 07 1997 500 71 14.2 07 1997 128 16 12.5
31 Ireland 11 1992 166 23 13.9 02 1993 60 8 13.3
32 Kazakstan 12 1995 67 9 13.4 12 1995 47 4 8.5
33 Bulgaria 12 1994 240 32 13.3 --- --- --- ---
" Saint Kitts and Nevis 07 1995 15 2 13.3 --- --- --- ---
34 Poland 09 1993 460 60 13.0 09 1993 100 13 13.0
" Portugal 10 1995 230 30 13.0 --- --- --- ---
35 Estonia 03 1995 101 13 12.9 --- --- --- ---
36 Indonesia 06 1992 500 63 12.6 --- --- --- ---
37 Guatemala 11 1995 80 10 12.5 --- --- --- ---
38 Cameroon 03 1992 180 22 12.2 --- --- --- ---
39 Albania 05 1996 140 17 12.1 --- --- --- ---
40 Azerbaijan 11 1995 125 15 12.0 --- --- --- ---
" Belgium 05 1995 150 18 12.0 05 1995 71 16 22.5
41 Colombia 03 1994 163 19 11.7 03 1994 102 7 6.9
" United States of America 11 1996 435 51 11.7 11 1996 100 9 9.0
" Jamaica 03 1993 60 7 11.7 03 1993 21 3 14.3
" Dominican Republic 05 1994 120 14 11.7 05 1994 30 1 3.3
" San Marino 05 1993 60 7 11.7 --- --- --- ---
" Senegal 05 1993 120 14 11.7 --- --- --- ---
42 Hungary 05 1994 386 44 11.4 --- --- --- ---
43 Cape Verde 12 1995 72 8 11.1 --- --- --- ---
" Italy 04 1996 630 70 11.1 04 1996 326 26 8.0
" Trinidad and Tobago 11 1995 36 4 11.1 11 1995 31 9 29.0
44 Nicaragua 10 1996 93 10 10.8 --- --- --- ---
" Peru 04 1995 120 13 10.8 --- --- --- ---
" Philippines 05 1995 203 22 10.8 05 1995 24 4 16.7
45 Barbados 09 1994 28 3 10.7 09 1994 21 6 28.6
" El Salvador 05 1994 84 9 10.7 --- --- --- ---
46 Russian Federation 12 1995 450 46 10.2 01 1996 178 1 0.6
47 Guinea-Bissau 07 1994 100 10 10.0 --- --- --- ---
48 Panama 05 1994 72 7 9.7 --- --- --- ---
" Zambia 11 1996 155 15 9.7 --- --- --- ---
49 Syrian Arab Republic 08 1994 250 24 9.6 --- --- --- ---
50 Angola 09 1992 220 21 9.5 --- --- --- ---
" United Kingdom 04 1992 651 62 9.5 01 1995 1190 82 6.9
" Saint Vincent & the Grenadines 02 1994 21 2 9.5 --- --- --- ---
51 Dominica 06 1995 32 3 9.4 --- --- --- ---
51 Lao People's Democratic Rep. 12 1997 85 8 9.4 --- --- --- ---
52 Bangladesh 06 1996 330 30 9.1 --- --- --- ---
53 Latvia 09 1995 100 9 9.0 --- --- --- ---
54 Equatorial Guinea 11 1993 80 7 8.8 --- --- --- ---
55 Botswana 10 1994 47 4 8.5 --- --- --- ---
56 Côte d'Ivoire 11 1995 168 14 8.3 --- --- --- ---
57 Bahamas 08 1992 49 4 8.2 08 1992 16 3 18.8
58 Liechtenstein 10 1993 25 2 8.0 --- --- --- ---
59 Croatia 10 1995 127 10 7.9 02 1993 68 3 4.4
" Mongolia 06 1996 76 6 7.9 --- --- --- ---
60 Honduras 11 1993 128 10 7.8 --- --- --- ---
" Malaysia 04 1995 192 15 7.8 04 1995 69 12 17.4
" Slovenia 11 1996 90 7 7.8 --- --- --- ---
61 Tuvalu 11 1993 13 1 7.7 --- --- --- ---
62 Mauritius 12 1995 66 5 7.6 --- --- --- ---
63 Chile 12 1993 120 9 7.5 12 1993 46 3 6.5
" Israel 05 1996 120 9 7.5 --- --- --- ---
64 Sao Tome and Principe 10 1994 55 4 7.3 --- --- --- ---
65 Benin 03 1995 83 6 7.2 --- --- --- ---
" India 04 1996 545 39 7.2 04 1996 245 19 7.8
66 Uruguay 11 1994 99 7 7.1 11 1994 31 2 6.5
67 Guinea 06 1995 114 8 7.0 --- --- --- ---
" Romania 11 1996 328 23 7.0 11 1996 143 3 2.1
68 Bolivia 06 1993 130 9 6.9 06 1993 27 1 3.7
69 Georgia 11 1995 235 16 6.8 --- --- --- ---
70 Tunisia 03 1994 163 11 6.7 --- --- --- ---
71 Algeria 05 1994 183 12 6.6 --- --- --- ---
" Brazil 10 1994 513 34 6.6 10 1994 81 6 7.4
72 France 03 1993 577 37 6.4 09 1995 321 18 5.6
73 Armenia 07 1995 190 12 6.3 --- --- --- ---
" Greece 09 1996 300 19 6.3 --- --- --- ---
" Maldives 12 1994 48 3 6.3 --- --- --- ---
" Sierra Leone 02 1996 80 5 6.3 --- --- --- ---
74 Uzbekistan 12 1994 250 15 6.0 --- --- --- ---
75 Venezuela 12 1993 203 12 5.9 12 1993 50 4 8.0
76 Cambodia 05 1993 120 7 5.8 --- --- --- ---
" Malta 10 1996 69 4 5.8 --- --- --- ---
77 Liberia 03 1994 35 2 5.7 --- --- --- ---
78 Malawi 05 1994 177 10 5.6 --- --- --- ---
" Monaco 01 1993 18 1 5.6 --- --- --- ---
" Nauru 11 1995 18 1 5.6 --- --- --- ---
" Thailand 11 1996 393 22 5.6 03 1996 260 21 8.1
79 Cyprus 05 1996 56 3 5.4 --- --- --- ---
80 Antigua and Barbuda 03 1994 19 1 5.3 03 1994 17 3 17.6
" Sudan 03 1996 400 21 5.3 --- --- --- ---
" Sri Lanka 08 1994 225 12 5.3 --- --- --- ---
81 Zaire 04 1994 738 37 5.0 --- --- --- ---
82 Republic of Moldova 02 1994 104 5 4.8 --- --- --- ---
83 Japan 10 1996 500 23 4.6 07 1995 252 35 13.9
" Lesotho 03 1993 65 3 4.6 05 1993 33 8 24.2
84 Fiji 02 1994 70 3 4.3 02 1994 34 3 8.8
85 Samoa 04 1996 49 2 4.1 --- --- --- ---
86 Iran (Islamic Rep. of) 03 1996 248 10 4.0 --- --- --- ---
87 Ukraine 12 1995 450 17 3.8 --- --- --- ---
88 Burkina Faso 05 1992 107/td> 4 3.7 12 1995 176 21 11.9
" Madagascar 06 1993 134 5 3.7 --- --- --- ---
89 Andorra 12 1993 28 1 3.6 --- --- --- ---
89 Haiti 06 1995 83 3 3.6 04 1997 27 0 0.0
90 Central African Republic 09 1993 85 3 3.5 --- --- --- ---
91 Belize 06 1993 29 1 3.4 06 1993 8 3 37.5
" Nepal 11 1994 205 7 3.4 06 1995 60 5 8.3
92 The F.Y.R. of Macedonia 10 1994 120 4 3.3 --- --- --- ---
93 Swaziland 09 1993 64 2 3.1 09 1993 30 6 20.0
94 Kenya 12 1992 202 6 3.0 --- --- --- ---
" Republic of Korea 04 1996 299 9 3.0 --- --- --- ---
95 Tajikistan 02 1995 181 5 2.8 --- --- --- ---
96 Paraguay 05 1993 80 2 2.5 05 1993 45 5 11.1
" Singapore 08 1991 81 2 2.5 --- --- --- ---
97 Turkey 12 1995 550 13 2.4 --- --- --- ---
98 Lebanon 08 1996 128 3 2.3 --- --- --- ---
" Mali 03 1992 129 3 2.3 --- --- --- ---
99 Solomon Islands 11 1995 47 1 2.1 --- --- --- ---
100 Bhutan 01 1996 150 3 2.0 --- --- --- ---
" Egypt 11 1995 454 9 2.0 --- --- --- ---
" Ethiopia 05 1995 550 11 2.0 05 1995 117 ? ?
101 Congo 10 1993 125 2 1.6 10 1996 60 2 3.3
102 Kyrgyzstan 02 1995 70 1 1.4 02 1995 35 4 11.4
103 Jordan 11 1993 80 1 1.3 11 1993 40 2 5.0
103 Mauritania 10 1996 79 1 1.3 04 1996 56 0 0.0
104 Togo 02 1994 81 1 1.2 --- --- --- ---
105 Yemen 04 1997 301 2 0.7 --- --- --- ---
106 Morocco 09 1993 333 2 0.6 --- --- --- ---
107 Comoros 12 1996 43 0 0.0 --- --- --- ---
" Djibouti 12 1992 65 0 0.0 --- --- --- ---
" United Arab Emirates 11 1995 40 0 0.0 --- --- --- ---
" Kiribati 07 1994 41 0 0.0 --- --- --- ---
" Kuwait 10 1996 50 0 0.0 --- --- --- ---
" Micronesia (Fed. States of) 03 1997 14 0 0.0 --- --- --- ---
" Palau 11 1996 16 0 0.0 11 1996 14 1 7.1
" Papua New Guinea 06 1992 109 0 0.0 --- --- --- ---
" Saint Lucia 04 1992 18 0 0 04 1992 11 4 36.4
" Tonga 01 1996 30 0 0.0 --- --- --- ---
? Belarus 11 1995 260 ? ? --- --- --- ---
? Bosnia and Herzegovina 09 1996 42 ? ? 09 1996 15 ? ?
? Ecuador 05 1996 82 ? ? --- --- --- ---
? Gabon 12 1996 120 ? ? --- --- --- ---
? Ghana 12 1996 200 ? ? --- --- --- ---
? Marshall Islands 11 1995 33 ? ? --- --- --- ---
? Iraq 03 1996 250 ? ? --- --- --- ---
? Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 1997* 760 ? ? --- --- --- ---
? Niger 11 1996 83 ? ? --- --- --- ---
? Vanuatu 11 1995 50 ? ? --- --- --- ---
? Yugoslavia 11 1996 138 ? ? 02 1994 40 1 2.5
? Pakistan ? --- --- --- 03 1994 87 3 3.4

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