Global and regional averages of women in national parliaments
Each month, IPU publishes global and regional averages of the percentage of women in national parliaments. See the monthly ranking for the data used to compile the averages.
The data in this table has been compiled by the Inter-Parliamentary Union on the basis of information provided by national parliaments.
Figures correspond to the number of seats filled in Parliament at the given time. These averages may evolve over time based on updates received from Parliaments.
See the regional groupings of countries used to make the regional averages.
The regions in the table below are listed by percentage of seats held by women in lower and single chambers.
Global and regional averages for 1997-2018 are available on the IPU archive site.
Averages as of 1st January 2021
| Global averages | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower chamber and unicameral | Upper chamber | All chambers | |
| Total MPs | 38,662 | 7,437 | 46,099 |
| Gender breakdown known for | 38,662 | 7,437 | 46,099 |
| Men | 28,762 | 5,593 | 34,355 |
| Women | 9,900 | 1,844 | 11,744 |
| Percentage of women | 25.6% | 24.8% | 25.5% |
| Regional averages | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Region | Lower chamber and unicameral | Upper chamber | All chambers |
| Americas | 32.2% | 33.0% | 32.4% |
| Caribbean | 40.8% | 31.8% | 39.5% |
| North America | 36.1% | 41.7% | 37.2% |
| Central America | 28.3% | 35.7% | 28.5% |
| South America | 26.3% | 26.6% | 26.3% |
| Europe | 30.5% | 30.2% | 30.4% |
| Nordic countries | 44.5% | 44.5% | |
| Western Europe | 35.0% | 32.1% | 34.0% |
| Southern Europe | 29.7% | 37.3% | 31.2% |
| Central and Eastern Europe | 24.7% | 18.6% | 23.9% |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 25.0% | 23.9% | 24.9% |
| East Africa | 31.6% | 27.6% | 31.1% |
| Southern Africa | 30.7% | 32.8% | 30.9% |
| Central Africa | 20.5% | 22.8% | 21.0% |
| West Africa | 15.6% | 11.8% | 15.2% |
| Asia | 20.8% | 17.6% | 20.4% |
| Central Asia | 25.6% | 21.8% | 24.7% |
| East Asia | 21.8% | 23.0% | 21.8% |
| South East Asia | 21.4% | 13.4% | 20.0% |
| South Asia | 17.3% | 18.5% | 17.6% |
| Middle East and North Africa | 19.3% | 11.2% | 17.8% |
| North Africa | 22.5% | 8.4% | 20.3% |
| Middle East | 17.3% | 12.5% | 16.3% |
| Pacific | 18.0% | 44.9% | 20.9% |
| Australia and New Zealand | 38.7% | 51.3% | 41.5% |
| Pacific Islands | 6.4% | 7.7% | 6.4% |