Women in National parliaments
Situation as of 31 December 2006


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 December 2006. 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 43'719
Gender breakdown known for 43'719
Men 36'369
Women 7'350
Percentage of women 16.8%


Single House or lower House
Total MPs 37'019
Gender breakdown known for 37'019
Men 30'737
Women 6'282
Percentage of women 17.0%
Upper House or Senate
Total MPs 6'700
Gender breakdown known for 6'700
Men 5'632
Women 1'068
Percentage of women 15.9%

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 40.8% --- 40.8%
Americas 19.9% 19.5% 19.8%
Europe - OSCE member countries
including Nordic countries
19.5% 17.5% 19.1%
Europe - OSCE member countries
excluding Nordic countries
17.4% 17.5% 17.4%
Sub-Saharan Africa 16.6% 17.9% 16.8%
Asia 16.2% 15.7% 16.1%
Pacific 12.4% 31.8% 14.5%
Arab States 9.3% 6.3% 8.6%

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