Women in National parliaments
Situation as of 20 March 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 20 March 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 MPs40.827
Gender breakdown known for38.121
Men33.448
Women4.673
Percentage of women12,3%


Single House or lower House
Total MPs34.493
Gender breakdown known for32.322
Men28.223
Women4.099
Percentage of women12,7%
Upper House or Senate
Total MPs6.334
Gender breakdown known for5.799
Men5.225
Women574
Percentage of women9,9%

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 35,9% --- 35,9%
Europe - OSCE member countries
including Nordic countries
14,4% 9,0% 13,2%
Americas 14,3% 13,4% 14,2%
Asia 14,4% 9,6% 13,9%
Europe - OSCE member countries
Nordic countries not including
12,3% 9,0% 11,5%
Sub-Saharan Africa 10,7% 14,0% 11,0%
Pacific 10,5% 21,8% 12,4%
Arab States 3,4% 1,4% 3,2%

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