Women in National parliaments
Situation as of 31 October 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 31 October 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 MPs43'945
Gender breakdown known for43'369
Men36'416
Women6'953
Percentage of women16.1%


Single House or lower House
Total MPs37'155
Gender breakdown known for36'801
Men30'829
Women5'972
Percentage of women16.2%
Upper House or Senate
Total MPs6'790
Gender breakdown known for6'568
Men5'587
Women981
Percentage of women14.9%

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 40.0% --- 40.0%
Europe - OSCE member countries
including Nordic countries
19.0% 16.5% 18.5%
Americas 18.8% 19.5% 18.9%
Europe - OSCE member countries
excluding Nordic countries
16.9% 16.5% 16.8%
Sub-Saharan Africa 16.0% 16.1% 16.0%
Asia 15.7% 13.6% 15.5%
Pacific 12.0% 26.5% 13.9%
Arab States 8.2% 6.2% 7.7%

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