Women in National parliaments
Situation as of 1st May 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 May 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 46'003
Gender breakdown known for 46'003
Men 35'578
Women 10'425
Percentage of women 22.7%


Single House or lower House
Total MPs 39'139
Gender breakdown known for 39'139
Men 30'224
Women 8'915
Percentage of women 22.8%
Upper House or Senate
Total MPs 6'864
Gender breakdown known for 6'864
Men 5'354
Women 1'510
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 27.5% 27.0% 27.4%
Europe - OSCE member countries
including Nordic countries
25.7% 24.7% 25.5%
Europe - OSCE member countries
excluding Nordic countries
24.3% 24.7% 24.4%

Sub-Saharan Africa

23.1% 21.9%

22.9%

Asia 19.3% 15.1% 18.9%
Arab States 18.4% 12.1% 17.5%
Pacific 13.5% 36.0% 16.0%

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