Situation as of 31 December 2007 |
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 December 2007. 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 | 10 2003 | 80 | 39 | 48.8% | 9 2003 | 26 | 9 | 34.6% |
2 | Sweden | 9 2006 | 349 | 164 | 47.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
3 | Finland | 3 2007 | 200 | 83 | 41.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
4 | Argentina | 10 2007 | 255 | 102 | 40.0% | 10 2007 | 72 | 28 | 38.9% |
5 | Netherlands | 11 2006 | 150 | 59 | 39.3% | 5 2007 | 75 | 26 | 34.7% |
6 | Denmark | 11 2007 | 179 | 68 | 38.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
7 | Costa Rica | 2 2006 | 57 | 21 | 36.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
8 | Spain | 3 2004 | 350 | 128 | 36.6% | 3 2004 | 259 | 60 | 23.2% |
9 | Norway | 9 2005 | 169 | 61 | 36.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
10 | Cuba | 1 2003 | 609 | 219 | 36.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
11 | Belgium | 6 2007 | 150 | 53 | 35.3% | 6 2007 | 71 | 27 | 38.0% |
12 | Mozambique | 12 2004 | 250 | 87 | 34.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
13 | Iceland | 5 2007 | 63 | 21 | 33.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
14 | New Zealand | 9 2005 | 121 | 40 | 33.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
15 | South Africa 1 | 4 2004 | 400 | 132 | 33.0% | 4 2004 | 54 | 22 | 40.7% |
16 | Austria | 10 2006 | 183 | 60 | 32.8% | N/A | 61 | 15 | 24.6% |
17 | Germany | 9 2005 | 613 | 194 | 31.6% | N/A | 69 | 15 | 21.7% |
18 | Uganda | 2 2006 | 332 | 102 | 30.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
19 | Burundi | 7 2005 | 118 | 36 | 30.5% | 7 2005 | 49 | 17 | 34.7% |
20 | United Republic of Tanzania | 12 2005 | 319 | 97 | 30.4% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
21 | Peru | 4 2006 | 120 | 35 | 29.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | The F.Y.R. of Macedonia | 7 2006 | 120 | 35 | 29.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Timor-Leste | 6 2007 | 65 | 19 | 29.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
22 | Belarus | 10 2004 | 110 | 32 | 29.1% | 11 2004 | 58 | 18 | 31.0% |
23 | Guyana | 8 2006 | 69 | 20 | 29.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
24 | Andorra | 4 2005 | 28 | 8 | 28.6% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
25 | Switzerland | 10 2007 | 200 | 57 | 28.5% | 10 2007 | 46 | 10 | 21.7% |
26 | Portugal | 2 2005 | 230 | 65 | 28.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
27 | Afghanistan | 9 2005 | 242 | 67 | 27.7% | 9 2005 | 102 | 22 | 21.6% |
28 | Namibia | 11 2004 | 78 | 21 | 26.9% | 11 2004 | 26 | 7 | 26.9% |
29 | Trinidad and Tobago | 11 2007 | 41 | 11 | 26.8% | 12 2007 | 31 | 13 | 41.9% |
30 | Australia | 11 2007 | 150 | 40 | 26.7% | 11 2007 | 76 | 27 | 35.5% |
" | Grenada | 11 2003 | 15 | 4 | 26.7% | 11 2003 | 13 | 4 | 30.8% |
31 | Viet Nam | 5 2007 | 493 | 127 | 25.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
32 | Kyrgyzstan | 12 2007 | 90 | 23 | 25.6% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
33 | Iraq | 12 2005 | 275 | 70 | 25.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Suriname | 5 2005 | 51 | 13 | 25.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
34 | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 4 2006 | 115 | 29 | 25.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
35 | Ecuador | 10 2006 | 100 | 25 | 25.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
36 | Singapore | 5 2006 | 94 | 23 | 24.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
37 | Liechtenstein | 3 2005 | 25 | 6 | 24.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
38 | Lesotho | 2 2007 | 119 | 28 | 23.5% | 3 2007 | 31 | 9 | 29.0% |
" | Seychelles | 5 2007 | 34 | 8 | 23.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
39 | Honduras | 11 2005 | 128 | 30 | 23.4% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
40 | Luxembourg | 6 2004 | 60 | 14 | 23.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
41 | Mexico | 7 2006 | 500 | 116 | 23.2% | 7 2006 | 128 | 23 | 18.0% |
42 | Tunisia | 10 2004 | 189 | 43 | 22.8% | 7 2005 | 111 | 17 | 15.3% |
43 | Lithuania | 10 2004 | 141 | 32 | 22.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
44 | United Arab Emirates | 12 2006 | 40 | 9 | 22.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
45 | Mauritania | 11 2006 | 95 | 21 | 22.1% | 1 2007 | 56 | 9 | 16.1% |
46 | Eritrea | 2 1994 | 150 | 33 | 22.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Senegal | 6 2007 | 150 | 33 | 22.0% | 8 2007 | 100 | 40 | 40.0% |
47 | Ethiopia | 5 2005 | 529 | 116 | 21.9% | 10 2005 | 112 | 21 | 18.8% |
48 | Republic of Moldova | 3 2005 | 101 | 22 | 21.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
49 | Bulgaria | 6 2005 | 240 | 52 | 21.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
50 | Canada | 1 2006 | 305 | 65 | 21.3% | N/A | 93 | 32 | 34.4% |
51 | Pakistan | 10 2002 | 342 | 72 | 21.1% | 3 2006 | 100 | 17 | 17.0% |
52 | Croatia | 11 2007 | 153 | 32 | 20.9% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
53 | Estonia | 3 2007 | 101 | 21 | 20.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Monaco | 2 2003 | 24 | 5 | 20.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
54 | China | 2 2003 | 2963 | 611 | 20.6% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
55 | Philippines | 5 2007 | 239 | 49 | 20.5% | 5 2007 | 23 | 4 | 17.4% |
56 | Poland | 10 2007 | 460 | 94 | 20.4% | 10 2007 | 100 | 8 | 8.0% |
" | Serbia | 1 2007 | 250 | 51 | 20.4% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
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 | Cambodia | 7 2003 | 123 | 24 | 19.5% | 1 2006 | 61 | 9 | 14.8% |
" | United Kingdom | 5 2005 | 646 | 126 | 19.5% | N/A | 750 | 148 | 19.7% |
61 | Guinea | 6 2002 | 114 | 22 | 19.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Slovakia | 6 2006 | 150 | 29 | 19.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
62 | Venezuela | 12 2005 | 167 | 31 | 18.6% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
63 | Nicaragua | 11 2006 | 92 | 17 | 18.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
64 | France | 6 2007 | 577 | 105 | 18.2% | 9 2004 | 330 | 60 | 18.2% |
" | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 12 2005 | 22 | 4 | 18.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
65 | Cape Verde | 1 2006 | 72 | 13 | 18.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Sudan | 8 2005 | 443 | 80 | 18.1% | 8 2005 | 50 | 3 | 6.0% |
66 | Equatorial Guinea | 4 2004 | 100 | 18 | 18.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
67 | 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% |
68 | Italy | 4 2006 | 630 | 109 | 17.3% | 4 2006 | 322 | 45 | 14.0% |
" | Nepal | 1 2007 | 329 | 57 | 17.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
69 | Mauritius | 7 2005 | 70 | 12 | 17.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
70 | Bolivia | 12 2005 | 130 | 22 | 16.9% | 12 2005 | 27 | 1 | 3.7% |
71 | United States of America | 11 2006 | 435 | 73 | 16.8% | 11 2006 | 100 | 16 | 16.0% |
72 | El Salvador | 3 2006 | 84 | 14 | 16.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Gabon | 12 2001 | 120 | 20 | 16.7% | 2 2003 | 91 | 14 | 15.4% |
" | Panama | 5 2004 | 78 | 13 | 16.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
73 | Dominica | 5 2005 | 31 | 5 | 16.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
74 | Turkmenistan | 12 2004 | 50 | 8 | 16.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Zimbabwe | 3 2005 | 150 | 24 | 16.0% | 11 2005 | 66 | 24 | 36.4% |
75 | Kazakhstan | 8 2007 | 107 | 17 | 15.9% | 8 2005 | 47 | 2 | 4.3% |
76 | Czech Republic | 6 2006 | 200 | 31 | 15.5% | 10 2006 | 81 | 11 | 13.6% |
77 | Burkina Faso | 5 2007 | 111 | 17 | 15.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
78 | Zambia | 9 2006 | 158 | 24 | 15.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
79 | Angola | 9 1992 | 220 | 33 | 15.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Chile | 12 2005 | 120 | 18 | 15.0% | 12 2005 | 38 | 2 | 5.3% |
80 | Greece | 9 2007 | 300 | 44 | 14.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
81 | Republic of Korea | 4 2004 | 299 | 43 | 14.4% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
82 | Cyprus | 5 2006 | 56 | 8 | 14.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
83 | Israel | 3 2006 | 120 | 17 | 14.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
84 | Guinea-Bissau | 3 2004 | 100 | 14 | 14.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Russian Federation | 12 2007 | 450 | 63 | 14.0% | N/A | 169 | 8 | 4.7% |
85 | Cameroon | 7 2007 | 180 | 25 | 13.9% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
86 | Djibouti | 1 2003 | 65 | 9 | 13.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
87 | Barbados | 5 2003 | 30 | 4 | 13.3% | 5 2003 | 21 | 5 | 23.8% |
" | 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% |
88 | Sierra Leone | 8 2007 | 121 | 16 | 13.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
89 | Malawi | 5 2004 | 193 | 25 | 13.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
90 | Liberia | 10 2005 | 64 | 8 | 12.5% | 10 2005 | 30 | 5 | 16.7% |
91 | Niger | 12 2004 | 113 | 14 | 12.4% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
92 | Bahamas | 5 2007 | 41 | 5 | 12.2% | 5 2007 | 15 | 9 | 60.0% |
" | Slovenia | 10 2004 | 90 | 11 | 12.2% | 12 2002 | 40 | 1 | 2.5% |
93 | Uruguay | 10 2004 | 99 | 12 | 12.1% | 10 2004 | 31 | 4 | 12.9% |
94 | Guatemala | 9 2007 | 158 | 19 | 12.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Maldives | 1 2005 | 50 | 6 | 12.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Syrian Arab Republic | 4 2007 | 250 | 30 | 12.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
95 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 10 2006 | 42 | 5 | 11.9% | 3 2007 | 15 | 2 | 13.3% |
96 | San Marino | 6 2006 | 60 | 7 | 11.7% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Thailand | 12 2007 | 477 | 56 | 11.7% | N/A | 242 | 21 | 8.7% |
97 | Indonesia | 4 2004 | 550 | 64 | 11.6% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
98 | Azerbaijan | 11 2005 | 123 | 14 | 11.4% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
99 | 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% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
100 | Ghana | 12 2004 | 230 | 25 | 10.9% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
101 | Benin | 3 2003 | 83 | 9 | 10.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Swaziland | 10 2003 | 65 | 7 | 10.8% | 10 2003 | 30 | 11 | 36.7% |
102 | 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% |
103 | Mali | 7 2007 | 147 | 15 | 10.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
104 | Malaysia | 3 2004 | 219 | 22 | 10.0% | 3 2004 | 65 | 18 | 27.7% |
" | Paraguay | 4 2003 | 80 | 8 | 10.0% | 4 2003 | 45 | 6 | 13.3% |
105 | Gambia | 1 2002 | 53 | 5 | 9.4% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Georgia | 3 2004 | 235 | 22 | 9.4% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Japan | 9 2005 | 480 | 45 | 9.4% | 7 2007 | 242 | 44 | 18.2% |
" | Romania | 11 2004 | 330 | 31 | 9.4% | 11 2004 | 137 | 14 | 10.2% |
106 | Armenia | 5 2007 | 131 | 12 | 9.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Malta | 4 2003 | 65 | 6 | 9.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
107 | India | 4 2004 | 541 | 49 | 9.1% | 7 2006 | 243 | 24 | 9.9% |
" | Turkey | 7 2007 | 549 | 50 | 9.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
108 | Brazil | 10 2006 | 513 | 46 | 9.0% | 10 2006 | 81 | 10 | 12.3% |
109 | Cote d'Ivoire | 12 2000 | 203 | 18 | 8.9% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
110 | 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% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Somalia | 8 2004 | 256 | 21 | 8.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Ukraine | 9 2007 | 450 | 37 | 8.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
112 | Madagascar | 9 2007 | 127 | 10 | 7.9% | 3 2001 | 90 | 10 | 11.1% |
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% | 10 2005 | 60 | 8 | 13.3% |
115 | Kenya 2 | 12 2007 | 207 | 15 | 7.2% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
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 | Mongolia | 6 2004 | 76 | 5 | 6.6% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
120 | Jordan | 11 2007 | 110 | 7 | 6.4% | 11 2007 | 55 | 7 | 12.7% |
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 | 30 | 4 | 13.3% |
" | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | 2 2004 | 290 | 12 | 4.1% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
126 | Vanuatu | 7 2004 | 52 | 2 | 3.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
127 | Belize | 3 2003 | 30 | 1 | 3.3% | 3 2003 | 13 | 5 | 38.5% |
" | Tonga | 3 2005 | 30 | 1 | 3.3% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
128 | Comoros | 4 2004 | 33 | 1 | 3.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Marshall Islands | 11 2007 | 33 | 1 | 3.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
129 | Bhutan | 1 2006 | 150 | 4 | 2.7% | 12 2007 | 15 | 3 | 20.0% |
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% |
" | Sao Tome and Principe | 3 2006 | 55 | 1 | 1.8% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
132 | Kuwait | 6 2006 | 65 | 1 | 1.5% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
133 | Papua New Guinea | 6 2007 | 109 | 1 | 0.9% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
134 | Yemen | 4 2003 | 301 | 1 | 0.3% | 4 2001 | 111 | 2 | 1.8% |
135 | Micronesia (Federated States of) | 3 2005 | 14 | 0 | 0.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Nauru | 8 2007 | 18 | 0 | 0.0% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
" | Oman | 10 2007 | 84 | 0 | 0.0% | 11 2007 | 70 | 14 | 20.0% |
" | Palau | 11 2004 | 16 | 0 | 0.0% | 11 2004 | 9 | 0 | 0.0% |
" | Qatar | 6 2006 | 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% | --- | --- | --- | --- |
* Figures correspond to the number of seats currently filled in Parliament
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 - Kenya: Situation for 1 January 2008 for directly elected members endorsed by the electoral commission. The additional twelve appointed seats and two ex-officio seats had yet to be filled. Bangladesh: The parliament was dissolved on 27 October 2006, in view of elections that are yet to take place. Women held 52 of the 345 seats (15%) in the outgoing parliament. |