- ImpactWe help parliaments to become greener and to implement the Paris agreement.We support democracy by strengthening parliamentsWe work to increase women’s representation in parliament and empower women MPs.We defend the human rights of parliamentarians and help them uphold the rights of all.We help parliaments fight terrorism, cyber warfare and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.We encourage youth participation in parliaments and empower young MPs.We support parliaments in implementing the SDGs with a particular focus on health and climate change.
- Parliaments
Nearly every country in the world has some form of parliament. Parliamentary systems fall into two categories: bicameral and unicameral. Out of 190 national parliaments in the world, 78 are bicameral (156 chambers) and 112 are unicameral, making a total of 268 chambers of parliament with some 44,000 members of parliament. IPU membership is made up of 179 national parliamentsFind a national parliament
The Swiss National Council © The Swiss Parliament
We help strengthen parliaments to make them more representative and effective.. - Knowledge
Discover the IPU's resources
Our library of essential resources for parliamentsGlobal data for and about national parliamentsLatest data and reports about women in parliamentResolutions, declarations and outcomes adopted by IPU MembersRecent innovations in the way parliaments workThe latest climate change legislation from the London School of Economics' database
Demonstration against climate change in South Africa. © Phill Magakoe / AFP
Youth participation
We encourage youth participation in parliaments and empower young MPs.
Young people are the future of any democracy. Today's youth are tomorrow's leaders, and they can already bring new ideas to solving the world’s problems. However, young people continue to be severely under-represented in parliament.
For over a decade, the IPU has been empowering young politicians to strengthen and rejuvenate democracies and make them more representative of all generations.
In 2010, we set up an international framework for youth participation in democracy and the Forum of Young Parliamentarians to bring in fresher faces to the political process.
The IPU is the data reference on youth in parliament, tracking the average age of MPs at the national, regional and global levels.
In 2018, the IPU became the first international organization to introduce incentives to encourage more young parliamentarians to attend its meetings. Parliamentary delegations who bring young MPs to IPU Assemblies receive extra votes and speaking time.
Working with parliaments, the United Nations, youth parliaments, civil society organizations and academia, we encourage youth participation by:
- Monitoring youth representation and participation, and issuing policy and legislative guidance to boost it. We also support parliaments in facilitating the access of youth to political decision-making, empowering young MPs and young people in general, and including a youth perspective in policies.
- Providing networking opportunities for young MPs to come together, through, for example the IPU annual global conference of young parliamentarians. The event brings together about 200 young parliamentarians, international organizations, youth associations and civil society.
- Organizing campaigns to raise awareness and motivate action to enhance youth participation.
Access the latest report on Youth participation in national parliaments
Half the world’s population is under 30 and yet less than 3% of MPs globally represent this age group.
The IPU has identified the six ways to change this.
Explore youth participation
The participation pf youth in the prevention and resolution of disputes is essential for the building of sustainable peace.© Alexandre Meneghini / Reuters
Youth are among the first victims of radicalization and conflict. Their participation in the prevention and resolution of disputes is essential to build sustainable peace.
Latest news and stories on youth
Voices
27/05/2023
Urging Parliamentary Action on Adolescent Well-Being through an IPU Resolution Earlier this year, the IPU held its 146th Assembly in Bahrain. The IPU Forum of Young Parliamentarians met to take stock of developments in global and national youth participation in
News in brief
27/03/2023
At the 146th IPU Assembly in Manama, Bahrain, IPU Members voted in new Presidents of the Bureau of Women Parliamentarians and the Board of the Forum of Young Parliamentarians. Both Presidents were elected for two-year terms. They will also serve
News in brief
11/08/2022
On this International Youth Day, the IPU congratulates all the young MPs making a mark in their respective parliaments. They are the future of democracy but with less than 3% of MPs under 30, young people remain severely under-represented. Increasing
News in brief
17/06/2022
On 15 and 16 June, some 200 young parliamentarians from 60 countries convened in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt for the Eight IPU Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians. The conference was jointly organized by the IPU and the Parliament of Egypt. This year’s
Voices
04/05/2022
In this video, IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong comments on the past five years at the IPU and explains how the organization empowers parliaments and parliamentarians for peace, democracy and sustainable development. Discover also five years of impact from the
Youth participation
Latest publications on youth participation
The third Global Parliamentary Report examines public engagement in the work of parliament. The information, findings and recommendations in this report set out a road map for enhanced public engagement by parliaments and parliamentarians, working collaboratively with the community to
Summary of facts and figures on the participation of young people in politics based on 2020 figures. Learn about the IPU's work on youth empowerment.
This report is the fourth biennial IPU review of youth participation in national parliaments. It builds on the previous 2018 report by adding new data from the last two years, using age data from 148 parliamentary chambers, as well as other quantitative and qualitative data from 258 chambers.
Youth participation
Related events
Youth participation