Women in National parliaments
Situation as of 31 August 2003


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 31 August 2003. 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 MPs42'106
Gender breakdown known for39'991
Men33'877
Women6'114
Percentage of women15.3%


Single House or lower House
Total MPs35'817
Gender breakdown known for34'024
Men28'747
Women5'277
Percentage of women15.5%
Upper House or Senate
Total MPs6'289
Gender breakdown known for5'967
Men5'130
Women837
Percentage of women14.0%

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%
Americas 18.4% 17.2% 18.2%
Europe - OSCE member countries
including Nordic countries
17.7% 15.2% 17.2%
Europe - OSCE member countries
excluding Nordic countries
15.6% 15.2% 15.5%
Asia 15.5% 13.8% 15.4%
Sub-Saharan Africa 14.1% 15.6% 14.3%
Pacific 12.1% 25.9% 13.6%
Arab States 6.0% 4.1% 5.6%

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