Women in National parliaments
Situation as of 1 January 1997


Comparative data by country The data in the tables below has been compiled by the Inter-Parliamentary Union on the basis of information provided by National Parliaments by 1 January 1997. Comparative data on the percentage of women in each National Parliament 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 average
Both Houses combined
Total MPs40.753
Gender breakdown known for38.493
Men33.981
Women4.512
Percentage of women11,7%


Single House or lower House
Total MPs34.839
Gender breakdown known for32.831
Men28.875
Women3.956
Percentage of women12,0%
Upper House or Senate
Total MPs5.914
Gender breakdown known for5.662
Men5.106
Women556
Percentage of women10,1%

Regional averages
Regions are classified by descending order of the percentage of women in the lower or single House
Single House
or lower House
Upper House
or Senate
Both Houses
combined
Nordic countries 36,4% --- 36,4%
Europe - OSCE member countries
including Nordic countries
13,8% 8,5% 12,6%
Americas 12,9% 11,5% 12,7%
Asia 13,4% 9,9% 13,1%
Europe - OSCE member countries
Nordic countries not including
12,3% 8,8% 11,5%
Sub-Saharan Africa 10,1% 13,6% 10,4%
Pacific 9,8% 21,8% 11,6%
Arab States 3,3% 2,1% 3,3%

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