Women in National parliaments
Situation as of 31 March 2009


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 31 March 2009. 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 44'688
Gender breakdown known for 44'113
Men 36'001
Women 8'112
Percentage of women 18.4%


Single House or lower House
Total MPs 37'715
Gender breakdown known for 37'140
Men 30'253
Women 6'887
Percentage of women 18.5%
Upper House or Senate
Total MPs 6'973
Gender breakdown known for 6'973
Men 5'748
Women 1'225
Percentage of women 17.6%

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 41.4% --- ---
Americas 21.7% 20.1% 21.5%
Europe - OSCE member countries
including Nordic countries
21.3% 19.4% 20.9%
Europe - OSCE member countries
excluding Nordic countries
19.3% 19.4% 19.3%
Sub-Saharan Africa 18.1% 21.4% 18.5%
Asia 18.0% 16.5% 17.9%
Pacific 13.0% 32,6% 15.2%
Arab States 9.7% 7.0% 9.1%

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