Situation as of 28 February 2009 |
The data in the table below has been compiled by the Inter-Parliamentary Union on the basis of information provided by National Parliaments by 28 February 2009. 188 country 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. | ||
New: you can now consult an archive of statistical data on women in National Parliaments. |
Rank | Country | Lower or single House | Upper House or Senate | ||||||
Elections | Seats* | Women | % W | Elections | Seats* | Women | % W | ||
1 | Rwanda | 9 2008 | 80 | 45 | 56.3% | 10 2003 | 26 | 9 | 34.6% |
2 | Sweden | 9 2006 | 349 | 164 | 47.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
3 | Cuba | 1 2008 | 614 | 265 | 43.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
4 | Finland | 3 2007 | 200 | 83 | 41.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
5 | Netherlands | 11 2006 | 150 | 62 | 41.3% | 5 2007 | 75 | 26 | 34.7% |
6 | Argentina | 10 2007 | 255 | 102 | 40.0% | 10 2007 | 72 | 28 | 38.9% |
7 | Denmark | 11 2007 | 179 | 68 | 38.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
8 | Angola | 9 2008 | 220 | 82 | 37.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
9 | Costa Rica | 2 2006 | 57 | 21 | 36.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
10 | Spain | 3 2008 | 350 | 127 | 36.3% | 3 2008 | 263 | 79 | 30.0% |
11 | Norway | 9 2005 | 169 | 61 | 36.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
12 | Belgium | 6 2007 | 150 | 53 | 35.3% | 6 2007 | 71 | 27 | 38.0% |
13 | Mozambique | 12 2004 | 250 | 87 | 34.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
14 | New Zealand | 11 2008 | 122 | 41 | 33.6% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
15 | Iceland | 5 2007 | 63 | 21 | 33.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
16 | Nepal | 4 2008 | 594 | 197 | 33.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
17 | South Africa 1 | 4 2004 | 400 | 132 | 33.0% | 4 2004 | 54 | 22 | 40.7% |
18 | Germany | 9 2005 | 612 | 197 | 32.2% | N.A. | 69 | 15 | 21.7% |
19 | Belarus | 9 2008 | 110 | 35 | 31.8% | 7 2008 | 56 | 19 | 33.9% |
20 | Uganda | 2 2006 | 332 | 102 | 30.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
21 | Burundi | 7 2005 | 118 | 36 | 30.5% | 7 2005 | 49 | 17 | 34.7% |
22 | United Republic of Tanzania | 12 2005 | 319 | 97 | 30.4% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
23 | Guyana | 8 2006 | 70 | 21 | 30.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
24 | Peru | 4 2006 | 120 | 35 | 29.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Timor-Leste | 6 2007 | 65 | 19 | 29.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
25 | Switzerland | 10 2007 | 200 | 57 | 28.5% | 10 2007 | 46 | 10 | 21.7% |
26 | Austria | 9 2008 | 183 | 52 | 28.4% | N.A. | 61 | 15 | 24.6% |
27 | Portugal | 2 2005 | 230 | 65 | 28.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | The F.Y.R. of Macedonia | 6 2008 | 120 | 34 | 28.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
28 | Afghanistan | 9 2005 | 242 | 67 | 27.7% | 9 2005 | 102 | 22 | 21.6% |
29 | Ecuador 2 | 10 2008 | 76 | 21 | 27.6% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
30 | Namibia | 11 2004 | 78 | 21 | 26.9% | 11 2004 | 26 | 7 | 26.9% |
31 | Trinidad and Tobago | 11 2007 | 41 | 11 | 26.8% | 12 2007 | 31 | 13 | 41.9% |
32 | Australia | 11 2007 | 150 | 40 | 26.7% | 11 2007 | 76 | 27 | 35.5% |
33 | Viet Nam | 5 2007 | 493 | 127 | 25.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
34 | Kyrgyzstan | 12 2007 | 90 | 23 | 25.6% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
35 | Iraq | 12 2005 | 275 | 70 | 25.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Suriname | 5 2005 | 51 | 13 | 25.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
36 | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 4 2006 | 115 | 29 | 25.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
37 | Andorra | 4 2005 | 28 | 7 | 25.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Lesotho | 2 2007 | 120 | 30 | 25.0% | 3 2007 | 31 | 9 | 29.0% |
" | Monaco | 2 2008 | 24 | 6 | 25.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
38 | Singapore | 5 2006 | 94 | 23 | 24.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
39 | Liechtenstein | 2 2009 | 25 | 6 | 24.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
40 | Seychelles | 5 2007 | 34 | 8 | 23.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
41 | Honduras | 11 2005 | 128 | 30 | 23.4% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
42 | Luxembourg | 6 2004 | 60 | 14 | 23.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
43 | Mexico | 7 2006 | 500 | 116 | 23.2% | 7 2006 | 128 | 23 | 18.0% |
44 | Tunisia | 10 2004 | 189 | 43 | 22.8% | 8 2008 | 112 | 17 | 15.2% |
45 | Pakistan | 2 2008 | 338 | 76 | 22.5% | 3 2006 | 100 | 17 | 17.0% |
" | United Arab Emirates | 12 2006 | 40 | 9 | 22.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
46 | Canada | 10 2008 | 308 | 68 | 22.1% | N.A. | 93 | 32 | 34.4% |
" | Mauritania | 11 2006 | 95 | 21 | 22.1% | 1 2007 | 56 | 9 | 16.1% |
47 | Eritrea | 2 1994 | 150 | 33 | 22.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Senegal | 6 2007 | 150 | 33 | 22.0% | 8 2007 | 100 | 40 | 40.0% |
48 | Ethiopia | 5 2005 | 529 | 116 | 21.9% | 10 2005 | 112 | 21 | 18.8% |
49 | Republic of Moldova | 3 2005 | 101 | 22 | 21.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
50 | Bulgaria | 6 2005 | 240 | 52 | 21.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
51 | Serbia | 5 2008 | 250 | 54 | 21.6% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
52 | China | 3 2008 | 2987 | 637 | 21.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Italy | 4 2008 | 630 | 134 | 21.3% | 4 2008 | 322 | 58 | 18.0% |
53 | Croatia | 11 2007 | 153 | 32 | 20.9% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
54 | Estonia | 3 2007 | 101 | 21 | 20.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
55 | Philippines | 5 2007 | 239 | 49 | 20.5% | 5 2007 | 23 | 4 | 17.4% |
56 | Poland | 10 2007 | 460 | 93 | 20.2% | 10 2007 | 100 | 8 | 8.0% |
57 | Democratic People's Republic of Korea | 8 2003 | 687 | 138 | 20.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
58 | Latvia | 10 2006 | 100 | 20 | 20.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
59 | Dominican Republic | 5 2006 | 178 | 35 | 19.7% | 5 2006 | 32 | 1 | 3.1% |
60 | United Kingdom | 5 2005 | 646 | 126 | 19.5% | N.A. | 746 | 147 | 19.7% |
61 | Slovakia | 6 2006 | 150 | 29 | 19.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
62 | El Salvador | 1 2009 | 84 | 16 | 19.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
63 | Dominica | 5 2005 | 32 | 6 | 18.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
64 | Venezuela | 12 2005 | 167 | 31 | 18.6% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
65 | Nicaragua | 11 2006 | 92 | 17 | 18.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
66 | France | 6 2007 | 577 | 105 | 18.2% | 9 2008 | 343 | 75 | 21.9% |
" | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 12 2005 | 22 | 4 | 18.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
67 | Cape Verde | 1 2006 | 72 | 13 | 18.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Sudan | 8 2005 | 443 | 80 | 18.1% | 8 2005 | 50 | 3 | 6.0% |
68 | Lithuania | 10 2008 | 141 | 25 | 17.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
69 | Israel | 2 2009 | 120 | 21 | 17.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Tajikistan | 2 2005 | 63 | 11 | 17.5% | 3 2005 | 34 | 8 | 23.5% |
" | Uzbekistan | 12 2004 | 120 | 21 | 17.5% | 1 2005 | 100 | 15 | 15.0% |
70 | Mauritius | 7 2005 | 70 | 12 | 17.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
71 | United States of America 3 | 11 2008 | 435 | 74 | 17.0% | 11 2008 | 100 | 17 | 17.0% |
72 | Bolivia | 12 2005 | 130 | 22 | 16.9% | 12 2005 | 27 | 1 | 3.7% |
73 | Gabon | 1 2009 | 120 | 20 | 16.7% | 1 2009 | 102 | 18 | 17.6% |
" | Panama | 5 2004 | 78 | 13 | 16.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
74 | Cambodia | 7 2008 | 123 | 20 | 16.3% | 1 2006 | 61 | 9 | 14.8% |
75 | Kazakhstan | 8 2007 | 107 | 17 | 15.9% | 10 2008 | 47 | 2 | 4.3% |
76 | Czech Republic | 6 2006 | 200 | 31 | 15.5% | 10 2008 | 81 | 14 | 17.3% |
77 | Burkina Faso | 5 2007 | 111 | 17 | 15.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
78 | Zambia | 9 2006 | 158 | 24 | 15.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Zimbabwe | 3 2008 | 210 | 32 | 15.2% | 3 2008 | 93 | 23 | 24.7% |
79 | Chile | 12 2005 | 120 | 18 | 15.0% | 12 2005 | 38 | 2 | 5.3% |
" | San Marino | 11 2008 | 60 | 9 | 15.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
80 | Greece | 9 2007 | 300 | 44 | 14.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
81 | Cyprus | 5 2006 | 56 | 8 | 14.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
82 | Russian Federation | 12 2007 | 450 | 63 | 14.0% | N.A. | 169 | 8 | 4.7% |
83 | Cameroon | 7 2007 | 180 | 25 | 13.9% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
84 | Djibouti | 2 2008 | 65 | 9 | 13.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Swaziland | 9 2008 | 65 | 9 | 13.8% | 10 2008 | 30 | 12 | 40.0% |
85 | Republic of Korea | 4 2008 | 299 | 41 | 13.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
86 | Grenada | 7 2008 | 15 | 2 | 13.3% | 8 2008 | 13 | 4 | 30.8% |
" | Ireland | 5 2007 | 166 | 22 | 13.3% | 7 2007 | 60 | 13 | 21.7% |
" | Jamaica | 9 2007 | 60 | 8 | 13.3% | 9 2007 | 21 | 3 | 14.3% |
" | Slovenia | 9 2008 | 90 | 12 | 13.3% | 11 2007 | 40 | 1 | 2.5% |
87 | Sierra Leone | 8 2007 | 121 | 16 | 13.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
88 | Malawi | 5 2004 | 193 | 25 | 13.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
89 | Liberia | 10 2005 | 64 | 8 | 12.5% | 10 2005 | 30 | 5 | 16.7% |
" | Paraguay | 4 2008 | 80 | 10 | 12.5% | 4 2008 | 45 | 7 | 15.6% |
90 | Niger | 12 2004 | 113 | 14 | 12.4% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Syrian Arab Republic | 4 2007 | 250 | 31 | 12.4% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
91 | Bahamas | 5 2007 | 41 | 5 | 12.2% | 5 2007 | 15 | 9 | 60.0% |
92 | Uruguay | 10 2004 | 99 | 12 | 12.1% | 10 2004 | 31 | 4 | 12.9% |
93 | Guatemala | 9 2007 | 158 | 19 | 12.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Maldives | 1 2005 | 50 | 6 | 12.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
94 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 10 2006 | 42 | 5 | 11.9% | 3 2007 | 15 | 2 | 13.3% |
95 | Thailand | 12 2007 | 480 | 56 | 11.7% | 3 2008 | 150 | 24 | 16.0% |
96 | Indonesia | 4 2004 | 550 | 64 | 11.6% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
97 | Azerbaijan | 11 2005 | 123 | 14 | 11.4% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Romania | 11 2008 | 334 | 38 | 11.4% | 11 2008 | 137 | 8 | 5.8% |
98 | Botswana | 10 2004 | 63 | 7 | 11.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Hungary | 4 2006 | 386 | 43 | 11.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Montenegro | 9 2006 | 81 | 9 | 11.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Saint Lucia | 12 2006 | 18 | 2 | 11.1% | 1 2007 | 11 | 3 | 27.3% |
" | Togo | 10 2007 | 81 | 9 | 11.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
99 | Benin | 3 2003 | 83 | 9 | 10.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Malaysia | 3 2008 | 222 | 24 | 10.8% | N.A. | 59 | 17 | 28.8% |
100 | Antigua and Barbuda | 3 2004 | 19 | 2 | 10.5% | 3 2004 | 17 | 4 | 23.5% |
" | Central African Republic | 3 2005 | 105 | 11 | 10.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Morocco | 9 2007 | 325 | 34 | 10.5% | 9 2006 | 270 | 3 | 1.1% |
101 | Mali | 7 2007 | 147 | 15 | 10.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
102 | Barbados | 1 2008 | 30 | 3 | 10.0% | 2 2008 | 21 | 4 | 19.0% |
" | Guinea-Bissau | 11 2008 | 100 | 10 | 10.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
103 | Kenya | 12 2007 | 224 | 22 | 9.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
104 | Gambia | 1 2002 | 53 | 5 | 9.4% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Japan | 9 2005 | 480 | 45 | 9.4% | 7 2007 | 242 | 44 | 18.2% |
105 | India | 4 2004 | 541 | 49 | 9.1% | 6 2008 | 243 | 23 | 9.5% |
" | Turkey | 7 2007 | 549 | 50 | 9.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
106 | Brazil | 10 2006 | 513 | 46 | 9.0% | 10 2006 | 81 | 10 | 12.3% |
107 | Cote d'Ivoire | 12 2000 | 203 | 18 | 8.9% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
108 | Malta | 3 2008 | 69 | 6 | 8.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
109 | Bhutan | 3 2008 | 47 | 4 | 8.5% | 12 2007 | 25 | 6 | 24.0% |
110 | Armenia | 5 2007 | 131 | 11 | 8.4% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Colombia | 3 2006 | 166 | 14 | 8.4% | 3 2006 | 102 | 12 | 11.8% |
" | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 7 2006 | 500 | 42 | 8.4% | 1 2007 | 108 | 5 | 4.6% |
111 | Samoa | 3 2006 | 49 | 4 | 8.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Ukraine | 9 2007 | 450 | 37 | 8.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
112 | Ghana | 12 2004 | 228 | 18 | 7.9% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Madagascar | 9 2007 | 127 | 10 | 7.9% | 4 2008 | 33 | 5 | 15.2% |
113 | Algeria | 5 2007 | 389 | 30 | 7.7% | 12 2006 | 136 | 4 | 2.9% |
" | Libyan Arab Jamahiriya | 3 2006 | 468 | 36 | 7.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
114 | Congo | 6 2007 | 137 | 10 | 7.3% | 8 2008 | 70 | 9 | 12.9% |
" | Sao Tome and Principe | 3 2006 | 55 | 4 | 7.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
115 | Albania | 7 2005 | 140 | 10 | 7.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
116 | Nigeria | 4 2007 | 358 | 25 | 7.0% | 4 2007 | 109 | 9 | 8.3% |
117 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 10 2004 | 15 | 1 | 6.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
118 | Jordan | 11 2007 | 110 | 7 | 6.4% | 11 2007 | 55 | 7 | 12.7% |
119 | Bangladesh 4 | 12 2008 | 300 | 19 | 6.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
120 | Equatorial Guinea | 5 2008 | 100 | 6 | 6.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Georgia | 5 2008 | 150 | 9 | 6.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
121 | Sri Lanka | 4 2004 | 225 | 13 | 5.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
122 | Chad | 4 2002 | 155 | 8 | 5.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
123 | Lebanon | 5 2005 | 128 | 6 | 4.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
124 | Kiribati | 8 2007 | 46 | 2 | 4.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
125 | Haiti | 2 2006 | 98 | 4 | 4.1% | 2 2006 | 18 | 2 | 11.1% |
" | Mongolia | 6 2008 | 74 | 3 | 4.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
126 | Vanuatu | 9 2008 | 52 | 2 | 3.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
127 | Kuwait 5 | 5 2008 | 65 | 2 | 3.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Tonga 6 | 4 2008 | 32 | 1 | 3.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
128 | Comoros | 4 2004 | 33 | 1 | 3.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Marshall Islands | 11 2007 | 33 | 1 | 3.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
129 | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | 3 2008 | 286 | 8 | 2.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
130 | Bahrain | 11 2006 | 40 | 1 | 2.5% | 12 2006 | 40 | 10 | 25.0% |
131 | Egypt | 11 2005 | 442 | 8 | 1.8% | 6 2007 | 264 | 18 | 6.8% |
132 | Papua New Guinea | 6 2007 | 109 | 1 | 0.9% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
133 | Yemen | 4 2003 | 301 | 1 | 0.3% | 4 2001 | 111 | 2 | 1.8% |
134 | Belize | 2 2008 | 32 | 0 | 0.0% | 3 2008 | 13 | 5 | 38.5% |
" | Micronesia (Federated States of) | 3 2005 | 14 | 0 | 0.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Nauru | 4 2008 | 18 | 0 | 0.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Oman | 10 2007 | 84 | 0 | 0.0% | 11 2007 | 70 | 14 | 20.0% |
" | Palau | 11 2008 | 16 | 0 | 0.0% | 11 2008 | 13 | 2 | 15.4% |
" | Qatar | 7 2008 | 35 | 0 | 0.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Saudi Arabia | 4 2005 | 150 | 0 | 0.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Solomon Islands | 4 2006 | 50 | 0 | 0.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Tuvalu | 8 2006 | 15 | 0 | 0.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
135 | Somalia | 8 2004 | 475 | ? | ? | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Turkmenistan | 12 2008 | 124 | ? | ? | --- | --- | --- | --- |
* Figures correspond to the number of seats currently filled in Parliament
Guinea: The parliament was dissolved following the December 2008 coup 1 - South Africa: The figures on the distribution of seats do not include the 36 special rotating delegates appointed on an ad hoc basis, and all percentages given are therefore calculated on the basis of the 54 permanent seats. 2 - Ecuador: The 2008 Constitution provides that the National Congress shall be replaced by a 124-member National Assembly. Elections to that body are due to take place on 26 April 2009. During the transitional period, a Legislative and Oversight Commission, comprising the members of the Constituent Assembly, assumes the legislative and oversight functions. The date refers to the date when the Commission held its first session. 3 - United States of America: The total refers to all voting members of the House. 4 - Bangladesh: 45 reserved seats reserved for women are yet to be filled. 5 - Kuwait: No woman candidate was elected in the 2008 elections. Two women were appointed to the 16-member cabinet sworn in in June 2008. As cabinet ministers also sit in parliament, there are two women out of a total of 65 members. 6 - Tonga: No women were elected in 2008, however one woman was appointed to the Cabinet. As cabinet ministers also sit in parliament, there is one woman out of a total of 32 members. |