Women in National parliaments
Situation as of 1st November 2017


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 1st November 2017. The percentages do not take into account the case of parliaments for which no data was available at that date. 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 MPs 46'133
Gender breakdown known for 46'133
Men 35'291
Women 10'842
Percentage of women 23.5%


Single House or lower House
Total MPs 39'261
Gender breakdown known for 39'261
Men 30'007
Women 9'254
Percentage of women 23.6%
Upper House or Senate
Total MPs 6'872
Gender breakdown known for 6'872
Men 5'284
Women 1'588
Percentage of women 23.1%

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 41.4% --- ---
Americas 28.2% 27.6% 28.1%
Europe - OSCE member countries
including Nordic countries
27.3% 26.2% 27.1%
Europe - OSCE member countries
excluding Nordic countries
25.9% 26.2% 26.0%

Sub-Saharan Africa

23.7% 22.9%

23.6%

Asia 19.7% 16.0% 19.4%
Arab States 18.2% 12.6% 17.5%
Pacific 15.4% 37.1% 17.8%

Women in politicsHome pageAreas of activityFunctioning and documents