Women in National parliaments
Situation as of 31 December 2008


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 2008. 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 44'436
Gender breakdown known for 44'312
Men 36'201
Women 8'111
Percentage of women 18.3%


Single House or lower House
Total MPs 37'472
Gender breakdown known for 37'348
Men 30'460
Women 6'888
Percentage of women 18.4%
Upper House or Senate
Total MPs 6'964
Gender breakdown known for 6'964
Men 5'741
Women 1'223
Percentage of women 17.6%

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 41.4% --- ---
Americas 21.7% 20.2% 21.5%
Europe - OSCE member countries
including Nordic countries
21.3% 19.4% 20.9%
Europe - OSCE member countries
excluding Nordic countries
19.3% 19.4% 19.3%
Asia 17.9% 16.5% 17.8%
Sub-Saharan Africa 17.8% 21.2% 18.2%
Pacific 13.0% 32,6% 15.2%
Arab States 9.7% 7.0% 9.1%

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