Women in National parliaments
Situation as of 29 February 2012


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 29 February 2012. 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 46'203
Gender breakdown known for 45'433
Men 36'498
Women 8'935
Percentage of women 19.7%


Single House or lower House
Total MPs 38'807
Gender breakdown known for 38'307
Men 30'697
Women 7'610
Percentage of women 19.9%
Upper House or Senate
Total MPs 7'396
Gender breakdown known for 7'126
Men 5'801
Women 1'325
Percentage of women 18.6%

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 42.0% --- ---
Europe - OSCE member countries
including Nordic countries
22.7% 21.1% 22.3%
Americas 22.6% 23.2% 22.7%
Europe - OSCE member countries
excluding Nordic countries
20.9% 21.1% 20.9%

Sub-Saharan Africa

20.5% 19.0% 20.3%
Asia 18.3% 14.2% 17.9%
Pacific 12.4% 34.8% 14.9%
Arab States 11.2% 7.3% 10.6%

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