Women in National parliaments
Situation as of 1st March 2016


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 March 2016. 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 45'787
Gender breakdown known for 45'787
Men 35'413
Women 10'374
Percentage of women 22.7%


Single House or lower House
Total MPs 38'914
Gender breakdown known for 38'914
Men 30'055
Women 8'859
Percentage of women 22.8%
Upper House or Senate
Total MPs 6'873
Gender breakdown known for 6'873
Men 5'358
Women 1'515
Percentage of women 22.0%

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 41.1% --- ---
Americas 27.4% 26.9% 27.3%
Europe - OSCE member countries
including Nordic countries
25.7% 24.7% 25.5%
Europe - OSCE member countries
excluding Nordic countries
24.2% 24.7% 24.3%

Sub-Saharan Africa

23.3% 21.9%

23.1%

Asia 19.1% 15.3% 18.8%
Arab States 18.4% 12.1% 17.6%
Pacific 13.2% 36.0% 15.8%

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