Situation as of 31 May 2009 |
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The data in the table below has been compiled by the Inter-Parliamentary Union on the basis of information provided by National Parliaments by 31 May 2009. 187 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. |
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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 | South Africa 1 | 4 2009 | 400 | 174 | 43.5% | 4 2009 | 54 | 16 | 29.6% |
4 | Cuba | 1 2008 | 614 | 265 | 43.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
5 | Iceland | 4 2009 | 63 | 27 | 42.9% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
6 | Finland | 3 2007 | 200 | 83 | 41.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
7 | Netherlands | 11 2006 | 150 | 62 | 41.3% | 5 2007 | 75 | 26 | 34.7% |
8 | Argentina | 10 2007 | 255 | 102 | 40.0% | 10 2007 | 72 | 28 | 38.9% |
9 | Denmark | 11 2007 | 179 | 68 | 38.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
10 | Angola | 9 2008 | 220 | 82 | 37.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
11 | Costa Rica | 2 2006 | 57 | 21 | 36.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
12 | Spain | 3 2008 | 350 | 127 | 36.3% | 3 2008 | 263 | 79 | 30.0% |
13 | Norway | 9 2005 | 169 | 61 | 36.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
14 | Belgium | 6 2007 | 150 | 53 | 35.3% | 6 2007 | 71 | 27 | 38.0% |
15 | Mozambique | 12 2004 | 250 | 87 | 34.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
16 | New Zealand | 11 2008 | 122 | 41 | 33.6% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
17 | Nepal | 4 2008 | 594 | 197 | 33.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
18 | Germany | 9 2005 | 612 | 197 | 32.2% | N.A. | 69 | 15 | 21.7% |
19 | Andorra | 4 2009 | 28 | 9 | 32.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
20 | Belarus | 9 2008 | 110 | 35 | 31.8% | 7 2008 | 56 | 19 | 33.9% |
21 | Uganda | 2 2006 | 332 | 102 | 30.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
22 | Burundi | 7 2005 | 118 | 36 | 30.5% | 7 2005 | 49 | 17 | 34.7% |
23 | United Republic of Tanzania | 12 2005 | 319 | 97 | 30.4% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
24 | Guyana | 8 2006 | 70 | 21 | 30.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
25 | Timor-Leste | 6 2007 | 65 | 19 | 29.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
26 | Switzerland | 10 2007 | 200 | 57 | 28.5% | 10 2007 | 46 | 10 | 21.7% |
27 | Portugal | 2 2005 | 230 | 65 | 28.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | The F.Y.R. of Macedonia | 6 2008 | 120 | 34 | 28.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
28 | Austria | 9 2008 | 183 | 51 | 27.9% | N.A. | 61 | 15 | 24.6% |
29 | Afghanistan | 9 2005 | 242 | 67 | 27.7% | 9 2005 | 102 | 22 | 21.6% |
30 | Peru | 4 2006 | 120 | 33 | 27.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
31 | Namibia | 11 2004 | 78 | 21 | 26.9% | 11 2004 | 26 | 7 | 26.9% |
32 | Trinidad and Tobago | 11 2007 | 41 | 11 | 26.8% | 12 2007 | 31 | 13 | 41.9% |
33 | Australia | 11 2007 | 150 | 40 | 26.7% | 11 2007 | 76 | 27 | 35.5% |
34 | Viet Nam | 5 2007 | 493 | 127 | 25.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
35 | Kyrgyzstan | 12 2007 | 90 | 23 | 25.6% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
36 | Iraq | 12 2005 | 275 | 70 | 25.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Suriname | 5 2005 | 51 | 13 | 25.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
37 | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 4 2006 | 115 | 29 | 25.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
38 | Lesotho | 2 2007 | 120 | 30 | 25.0% | 3 2007 | 31 | 9 | 29.0% |
" | Monaco | 2 2008 | 24 | 6 | 25.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
39 | Singapore | 5 2006 | 94 | 23 | 24.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
40 | Liechtenstein | 2 2009 | 25 | 6 | 24.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
41 | Republic of Moldova | 4 2009 | 101 | 24 | 23.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
42 | Seychelles | 5 2007 | 34 | 8 | 23.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
43 | Honduras | 11 2005 | 128 | 30 | 23.4% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
44 | Luxembourg | 6 2004 | 60 | 14 | 23.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
45 | Mexico | 7 2006 | 500 | 116 | 23.2% | 7 2006 | 128 | 23 | 18.0% |
46 | Tunisia | 10 2004 | 189 | 43 | 22.8% | 8 2008 | 112 | 17 | 15.2% |
47 | Pakistan | 2 2008 | 338 | 76 | 22.5% | 3 2009 | 100 | 17 | 17.0% |
" | United Arab Emirates | 12 2006 | 40 | 9 | 22.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
48 | 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% |
49 | Eritrea | 2 1994 | 150 | 33 | 22.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Senegal | 6 2007 | 150 | 33 | 22.0% | 8 2007 | 100 | 40 | 40.0% |
50 | Ethiopia | 5 2005 | 529 | 116 | 21.9% | 10 2005 | 112 | 21 | 18.8% |
51 | Bulgaria | 6 2005 | 240 | 52 | 21.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
52 | Serbia | 5 2008 | 250 | 54 | 21.6% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
53 | China | 3 2008 | 2987 | 637 | 21.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Italy | 4 2008 | 630 | 134 | 21.3% | 4 2008 | 322 | 58 | 18.0% |
54 | Croatia | 11 2007 | 153 | 32 | 20.9% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
55 | Estonia | 3 2007 | 101 | 21 | 20.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
56 | Philippines | 5 2007 | 239 | 49 | 20.5% | 5 2007 | 23 | 4 | 17.4% |
57 | Poland | 10 2007 | 460 | 93 | 20.2% | 10 2007 | 100 | 8 | 8.0% |
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 | Bangladesh | 12 2008 | 345 | 64 | 18.6% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | 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 | Bolivia | 12 2005 | 130 | 22 | 16.9% | 12 2005 | 27 | 1 | 3.7% |
72 | Turkmenistan | 12 2008 | 125 | 21 | 16.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | United States of America 2 | 11 2008 | 435 | 73 | 16.8% | 11 2008 | 98 | 15 | 15.3% |
73 | Gabon | 1 2009 | 120 | 20 | 16.7% | 1 2009 | 102 | 18 | 17.6% |
74 | Indonesia | 4 2009 | 560 | 93 | 16.6% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
75 | Cambodia | 7 2008 | 123 | 20 | 16.3% | 1 2006 | 61 | 9 | 14.8% |
76 | Kazakhstan | 8 2007 | 107 | 17 | 15.9% | 10 2008 | 47 | 2 | 4.3% |
77 | Democratic People's Republic of Korea | 3 2009 | 687 | 107 | 15.6% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
78 | Czech Republic | 6 2006 | 200 | 31 | 15.5% | 10 2008 | 81 | 14 | 17.3% |
79 | Burkina Faso | 5 2007 | 111 | 17 | 15.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
80 | Zambia | 9 2006 | 158 | 24 | 15.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Zimbabwe | 3 2008 | 210 | 32 | 15.2% | 3 2008 | 93 | 23 | 24.7% |
81 | Chile | 12 2005 | 120 | 18 | 15.0% | 12 2005 | 38 | 2 | 5.3% |
" | San Marino | 11 2008 | 60 | 9 | 15.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
82 | Greece | 9 2007 | 300 | 44 | 14.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
83 | Cyprus | 5 2006 | 56 | 8 | 14.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
84 | Russian Federation | 12 2007 | 450 | 63 | 14.0% | N.A. | 169 | 8 | 4.7% |
85 | Cameroon | 7 2007 | 180 | 25 | 13.9% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
86 | Djibouti | 2 2008 | 65 | 9 | 13.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Swaziland | 9 2008 | 65 | 9 | 13.8% | 10 2008 | 30 | 12 | 40.0% |
87 | Republic of Korea | 4 2008 | 299 | 41 | 13.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
88 | 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% |
89 | Sierra Leone | 8 2007 | 121 | 16 | 13.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
90 | 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% |
91 | Niger | 12 2004 | 113 | 14 | 12.4% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Syrian Arab Republic | 4 2007 | 250 | 31 | 12.4% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
92 | Bahamas | 5 2007 | 41 | 5 | 12.2% | 5 2007 | 15 | 9 | 60.0% |
93 | Uruguay | 10 2004 | 99 | 12 | 12.1% | 10 2004 | 31 | 4 | 12.9% |
94 | Guatemala | 9 2007 | 158 | 19 | 12.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
95 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 10 2006 | 42 | 5 | 11.9% | 3 2007 | 15 | 2 | 13.3% |
96 | Thailand | 12 2007 | 480 | 56 | 11.7% | 3 2008 | 150 | 24 | 16.0% |
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% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Saint Lucia | 12 2006 | 18 | 2 | 11.1% | 1 2007 | 11 | 3 | 27.3% |
" | Togo | 10 2007 | 81 | 9 | 11.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
99 | India | 4 2009 | 543 | 59 | 10.9% | 7 2008 | 243 | 23 | 9.5% |
100 | Benin | 3 2003 | 83 | 9 | 10.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Malaysia | 3 2008 | 222 | 24 | 10.8% | N.A. | 59 | 17 | 28.8% |
101 | Antigua and Barbuda | 3 2009 | 19 | 2 | 10.5% | 4 2009 | 17 | 5 | 29.4% |
" | Central African Republic | 3 2005 | 105 | 11 | 10.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Morocco | 9 2007 | 325 | 34 | 10.5% | 9 2006 | 270 | 3 | 1.1% |
102 | Mali | 7 2007 | 147 | 15 | 10.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
103 | Barbados | 1 2008 | 30 | 3 | 10.0% | 2 2008 | 21 | 4 | 19.0% |
" | Equatorial Guinea | 5 2008 | 100 | 10 | 10.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Guinea-Bissau | 11 2008 | 100 | 10 | 10.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
104 | Kenya | 12 2007 | 224 | 22 | 9.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
105 | Gambia | 1 2002 | 53 | 5 | 9.4% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Japan | 9 2005 | 480 | 45 | 9.4% | 7 2007 | 242 | 44 | 18.2% |
106 | Turkey | 7 2007 | 549 | 50 | 9.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
107 | Brazil | 10 2006 | 513 | 46 | 9.0% | 10 2006 | 81 | 10 | 12.3% |
108 | Cote d'Ivoire | 12 2000 | 203 | 18 | 8.9% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
109 | Malta | 3 2008 | 69 | 6 | 8.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
110 | Bhutan | 3 2008 | 47 | 4 | 8.5% | 12 2007 | 25 | 6 | 24.0% |
" | Panama | 5 2009 | 71 | 6 | 8.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
111 | 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% |
112 | Samoa | 3 2006 | 49 | 4 | 8.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Ukraine | 9 2007 | 450 | 37 | 8.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
113 | Ghana | 12 2004 | 228 | 18 | 7.9% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
114 | Algeria | 5 2007 | 389 | 30 | 7.7% | 12 2006 | 136 | 4 | 2.9% |
" | Kuwait | 5 2008 | 65 | 5 | 7.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Libyan Arab Jamahiriya | 3 2009 | 468 | 36 | 7.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
115 | Congo | 6 2007 | 137 | 10 | 7.3% | 8 2008 | 70 | 9 | 12.9% |
" | Sao Tome and Principe | 3 2006 | 55 | 4 | 7.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
116 | Albania | 7 2005 | 140 | 10 | 7.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
117 | Nigeria | 4 2007 | 358 | 25 | 7.0% | 4 2007 | 109 | 9 | 8.3% |
118 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 10 2004 | 15 | 1 | 6.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
119 | Maldives | 5 2009 | 76 | 5 | 6.6% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
120 | Jordan | 11 2007 | 110 | 7 | 6.4% | 11 2007 | 55 | 7 | 12.7% |
121 | Montenegro | 3 2009 | 81 | 5 | 6.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
122 | Georgia | 5 2008 | 150 | 9 | 6.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
123 | Somalia | 8 2004 | 523 | 31 | 5.9% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
124 | Sri Lanka | 4 2004 | 225 | 13 | 5.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
125 | Chad | 4 2002 | 155 | 8 | 5.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
126 | Lebanon | 5 2005 | 128 | 6 | 4.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
127 | Kiribati | 8 2007 | 46 | 2 | 4.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
128 | Haiti | 2 2006 | 98 | 4 | 4.1% | 4 2009 | 18 | ? | ? |
" | Mongolia | 6 2008 | 74 | 3 | 4.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
129 | Vanuatu | 9 2008 | 52 | 2 | 3.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
130 | Tonga 3 | 4 2008 | 32 | 1 | 3.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
131 | Comoros | 4 2004 | 33 | 1 | 3.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Marshall Islands | 11 2007 | 33 | 1 | 3.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
132 | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | 3 2008 | 286 | 8 | 2.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
133 | Bahrain | 11 2006 | 40 | 1 | 2.5% | 12 2006 | 40 | 10 | 25.0% |
134 | Egypt | 11 2005 | 442 | 8 | 1.8% | 6 2007 | 264 | 18 | 6.8% |
135 | Papua New Guinea | 6 2007 | 109 | 1 | 0.9% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
136 | Yemen | 4 2003 | 301 | 1 | 0.3% | 4 2001 | 111 | 2 | 1.8% |
137 | Belize | 2 2008 | 32 | 0 | 0.0% | 3 2008 | 13 | 5 | 38.5% |
" | Micronesia (Federated States of) | 3 2009 | 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 | 2 2009 | 150 | 0 | 0.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Solomon Islands | 4 2006 | 50 | 0 | 0.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Tuvalu | 8 2006 | 15 | 0 | 0.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
138 | Ecuador | 4 2009 | 124 | ? | ? | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Malawi | 5 2009 | 193 | ? | ? | --- | --- | --- | --- |
* 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 - United States of America: The total refers to all voting members of the House. 3 - 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. |
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