Women in National parliaments
Situation as of 15 May 1998


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 15 May 1998. 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 MPs41.198
Gender breakdown known for36.583
Men31.960
Women4.623
Percentage of women12,6%


Single House or lower House
Total MPs34.695
Gender breakdown known for31.780
Men27.675
Women4.105
Percentage of women12,9%
Upper House or Senate
Total MPs6.503
Gender breakdown known for4.803
Men4.285
Women518
Percentage of women10,8%

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 36,7% --- 36,7%
Europe - OSCE member countries
including Nordic countries
15,1% 10,4% 14,3%
Americas 14,9% 13,9% 14,8%
Asia 14,1% 9,8% 13,6%
Europe - OSCE member countries
Nordic countries not including
12,8% 10,4% 12,4%
Sub-Saharan Africa 10,9% 14,0% 11,1%
Pacific 10,6% 21,8% 12,4%
Arab States 3,4% 2,9% 3,3%

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