Women in National parliaments
Situation as of 10 November 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 10 November 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 MPs40.557
Gender breakdown known for38.451
Men33.796
Women4.655
Percentage of women12,1%


Single House or lower House
Total MPs34.573
Gender breakdown known for32.860
Men28.769
Women4.091
Percentage of women12,4%
Upper House or Senate
Total MPs5.984
Gender breakdown known for5.591
Men5.027
Women564
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 35,9% --- 35,9%
Europe - OSCE member countries
including Nordic countries
14,3% 8,8% 13,1%
Americas 12,6% 11,9% 12,5%
Asia 13,6% 9,9% 13,2%
Europe - OSCE member countries
Nordic countries not including
12,3% 8,8% 11,5%
Sub-Saharan Africa 10,6% 12,7% 10,8%
Pacific 10,8% 21,8% 12,7%
Arab States 3,6% 2,1% 3,6%

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