Women in National parliaments
Situation as of 10 April 2002


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 10 April 2002. 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 MPs41.177
Gender breakdown known for38.780
Men33.225
Women5.555
Percentage of women14,3%


Single House or lower House
Total MPs35.086
Gender breakdown known for32.992
Men28.232
Women4.760
Percentage of women14,4%
Upper House or Senate
Total MPs6.091
Gender breakdown known for5.788
Men4.993
Women795
Percentage of women13,7%

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 38,9% --- 38,9%
Europe - OSCE member countries
including Nordic countries
17,5% 14,8% 16,9%
Americas 15,8% 16,9% 16,0%
Europe - OSCE member countries
excluding Nordic countries
15,3% 14,8% 15,2%
Asia 14,8% 13,0% 14,6%
Sub-Saharan Africa 12,7% 12,8% 12,7%
Pacific 11,8% 25,9% 13,2%
Arab States 4,6% 2,5% 4,3%

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