Women in National parliaments
Situation as of 31 October 2012


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 October 2012. 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 46'068
Gender breakdown known for 46'068
Men 36'729
Women 9'339
Percentage of women 20.3%


Single House or lower House
Total MPs 38'838
Gender breakdown known for 38'838
Men 30'808
Women 8'030
Percentage of women 20.7%
Upper House or Senate
Total MPs 7'230
Gender breakdown known for 7'230
Men 5'921
Women 1'309
Percentage of women 18.1%

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 42.0% --- ---
Americas 23.8% 24.6% 24.0%
Europe - OSCE member countries
including Nordic countries
23.6% 21.1% 23.1%
Europe - OSCE member countries
excluding Nordic countries
21.9% 21.1% 21.7%

Sub-Saharan Africa

20.8% 17.4%

20.4%

Asia 18.5% 14.2% 18.0%
Arab States 14.9% 6.4% 13.2%
Pacific 12.7% 34.8% 15.2%

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