Women in National parliaments
Situation as of 28 February 2005


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 28 February 2005. 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 MPs42'832
Gender breakdown known for41'820
Men35'256
Women6'564
Percentage of women15.7%


Single House or lower House
Total MPs36'306
Gender breakdown known for35'373
Men29'766
Women5'607
Percentage of women15.9%
Upper House or Senate
Total MPs6'526
Gender breakdown known for6'447
Men5'490
Women957
Percentage of women14.8%

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 39.9% --- 39.9%
Europe - OSCE member countries
including Nordic countries
19.0% 16.8% 18.5%
Americas 18.7% 18.5% 18.6%
Europe - OSCE member countries
excluding Nordic countries
16.9% 16.8% 16.9%
Asia 15.0% 13.5% 14.9%
Sub-Saharan Africa 14.9% 14.0% 14.8%
Pacific 11.2% 26.5% 13.2%
Arab States 6.7% 5.6% 6.5%

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