Women in National parliaments
Situation as of 1st September 2018


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 1st September 2018. 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 46'083
Gender breakdown known for 46'083
Men 35'046
Women 11'037
Percentage of women 24.0%


Single House or lower House
Total MPs 39'092
Gender breakdown known for 39'092
Men 29'733
Women 9'359
Percentage of women 23.9%
Upper House or Senate
Total MPs 6'991
Gender breakdown known for 6'991
Men 5'313
Women 1'678
Percentage of women 24.0%

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 41.4% --- ---
Americas 29.5% 30.6% 29.7%
Europe - OSCE member countries
including Nordic countries
27.7% 27.0% 27.5%
Europe - OSCE member countries
excluding Nordic countries
26.4% 27.0% 26.5%

Sub-Saharan Africa

23.8% 22.6%

23.6%

Asia 19.8% 17.7% 19.5%
Arab States 18.6% 12.6% 17.8%
Pacific 15.6% 37.1% 18.0%

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