Women in National parliaments
Situation as of 23 December 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 23 December 2002. 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 MPs41'746
Gender breakdown known for37'803
Men32'130
Women5'673
Percentage of women15.0%


Single House or lower House
Total MPs35'664
Gender breakdown known for32'400
Men27'487
Women4'913
Percentage of women15.2%
Upper House or Senate
Total MPs6'082
Gender breakdown known for5'403
Men4'643
Women760
Percentage of women14.1%

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 39.7% --- 39.7%
Europe - OSCE member countries
including Nordic countries
18.1% 14.8% 17.4%
Americas 16.2% 18.4% 16.5%
Europe - OSCE member countries
excluding Nordic countries
15.7% 14.8% 15.5%
Asia 15.4% 13.0% 15.2%
Sub-Saharan Africa 13.7% 12.7% 13.6%
Pacific 13.7% 25.9% 15.2%
Arab States 6.1% 2.6% 5.7%

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