Women in National parliaments
Situation as of 31 August 2006


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 August 2006. 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 44'389
Gender breakdown known for 42'556
Men 35'459
Women 7'097
Percentage of women 16.7%


Single House or lower House
Total MPs 37'525
Gender breakdown known for 35'794
Men 29'754
Women 6'020
Percentage of women16.8%
Upper House or Senate
Total MPs 6'864
Gender breakdown known for 6'762
Men 5'685
Women 1'077
Percentage of women 15.9%

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 40.1% --- 40.1%
Americas 19.7% 20.3% 19.8%
Europe - OSCE member countries
including Nordic countries
19.5% 16.9% 19.0%
Europe - OSCE member countries
excluding Nordic countries
17.5% 16.9% 17.4%
Sub-Saharan Africa 17.0% 17.6% 17.1%
Asia 16.4% 17.6% 16.5%
Pacific 12.3% 27.4% 143%
Arab States 8.2% 6.0% 7.7%

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