Women in National parliaments
Situation as of 25 December 1997


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 25 December 1997. 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 MPs40.656
Gender breakdown known for35.343
Men31.333
Women4.010
Percentage of women11,3%


Single House or lower House
Total MPs34.462
Gender breakdown known for29.414
Men25.984
Women3.430
Percentage of women11,7%
Upper House or Senate
Total MPs6.194
Gender breakdown known for5.929
Men5.349
Women580
Percentage of women9,8%

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

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