Sparknews

Proportion of women parliamentarians worldwide

26 years after the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which set the international target for reaching gender balance in political decision-making, women are still underrepresented across all levels of power. 

You can find here the United Nations world map of political representation as of January 1st 2021

• On average, globally, women hold 25.5% of both houses combined. The gap is actually wider in the Pacific region (20.9%), MENA (17.8%) and Asia (20.4%), and narrower in the Americas (32.4%) and Europe (30.4%). In Sub-Saharan Africa the average is nearly equal to the global average (25%).
• Only 2 countries in the world have more women parliamentarians in the lower house than men (Rwanda, Cuba) and one has 50/50 parity in Parliament (UAE), as of January 1st 2021. 
• The only 3 countries that have more women than men in the Senate are Australia (51.3%), Antigua and Barbuda (52.9%) and Bolivia (55.6%), followed closely by Mexico (49.2%). 
• Only 22 out of 193 countries have a women as Head of Government (Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Iceland, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago), 9 of which are also Head of State. 
• 119 have never had a woman leader, according to the UN, which underlines that at the current rate, gender equality in the highest positions of power will not be attained for another 130 years. 
• In 2021, only 13 countries have 50% or more women in ministerial positions (Nicaragua, Austria, Belgium, Sweden, Albania, Rwanda, Costa Rica, Canada, Andorra, Finland, France, Guinea-Bissau and Spain). Globally, most women ministers tend to hold portfolios linked to Family and children’s affairs, Social affairs, Environment, Employment and Gender equality.  

82% of women parliamentarians who participated in a study conducted by the Inter-parliamentary Union in 39 countries across five regions in 2016 reported having experienced some form of psychological violence (remarks, gestures and images of a sexist or humiliating sexual nature made against them or threats and/or mobbing) while serving their terms.

Yet…

• According to Cambridge University research, female lawmakers are more likely to advocate for policy that support education and health — they are also more likely to pass and implement legislation that advances gender equality, including laws on domestic violence, rape, and sexual harassment.
• According to the Council on Foreign Relations, when women’s parliamentary representation increases by 5%, a country is almost five times less likely to respond to an international crisis with violence. Within countries, women’s parliamentary representation is associated with a decreased risk of civil war and lower levels of state-perpetrated human rights abuses, such as disappearances, killings, political imprisonment, and torture. 

Towards Equality’s Media Partners’ countries up close:

• In Afghanistan (which ranks 71 out of 193 countries analyzed by the UN in regards to gender parity in Parliament) women currently hold 27% of the Lower House and 27.9% of the Senate or Upper House in Parliament (see Afghanistan’s piece on Women’s share in Parliament here). Women hold 6.5% of the country’s ministerial positions (2 out of 31).
  
• In Argentina (which ranks 18 out of 193 countries analyzed by the UN in regards to gender parity in Parliament) women currently hold 42.4% of the Lower House and 40.3% of the Senate or Upper House in Parliament. A woman is currently speaker of Parliament. Women hold 18.2% of the country’s ministerial positions (4 out of 22).
• In Brazil (which ranks 142 out of 193 countries analyzed by the UN in regards to gender parity in Parliament) women currently hold 15.2% of the Lower House and 12.4% of the Senate or Upper House in Parliament. Women hold 10.5% of the country’s ministerial positions (2 out of 19).
• In France (which ranks 27 out of 193 countries analyzed by the UN in regards to gender parity in Parliament) women currently hold 34.8% of the Lower House and 12.4% of the Senate or Upper House in Parliament. Women hold 50% of the country’s ministerial positions (9 out of 18).
• In Italy (which ranks 35 out of 193 countries analyzed by the UN in regards to gender parity in Parliament, tied with Guyana) women currently hold 35.7% of the Lower House and 34.4% of the Senate or Upper House in Parliament. A woman is currently speaker of Parliament. Women hold 36.4% of the country’s ministerial positions (8 out of 22).
• In Japan (which ranks 166 out of 193 countries analyzed by the UN in regards to gender parity in Parliament) women currently hold 9.9% of the Lower House and 23% of the Senate or Upper House in Parliament. A woman is currently speaker of Parliament. Women hold 10% of the country’s ministerial positions (2 out of 20).
• In Kenya (which ranks 105 out of 193 countries analyzed by the UN in regards to gender parity in Parliament, tied with Fiji and Cambodia) women currently hold 21.6% of the Lower House and 12.4% of the Senate or Upper House in Parliament. Women hold 31.8% of the country’s ministerial positions (7 out of 23).
• In Lebanon (which ranks 183 out of 193 countries analyzed by the UN in regards to gender parity in Parliament) women currently hold 4.7% of the Parliament (MPs chamber). The country doesn’t have a Senate. Women hold 31.6% of the country’s ministerial positions (6 out of 19).
• In Morocco (which ranks 114 out of 193 countries analyzed by the UN in regards to gender parity in Parliament) women currently hold 20.5% of the Lower House and 11.7% of the Senate or Upper House in Parliament. Women hold 15.8% of the country’s ministerial positions (3 out of 19).
• In South Africa (which ranks 12 out of 193 countries analyzed by the UN in regards to gender parity in Parliament) women currently hold 45.8% of the Lower House and 41.5% of the Senate or Upper House in Parliament. A woman is currently speaker of Parliament. Women hold 48.3% of the country’s ministerial positions (14 out of 29).
• In Spain (which ranks 16 out of 193 countries analyzed by the UN in regards to gender parity in Parliament) women currently hold 44% of the Lower House and 40.8% of the Senate or Upper House in Parliament. A woman is currently speaker of Parliament. Women hold 50% of the country’s ministerial positions (11 out of 22).
• In Switzerland (which ranks 20 out of 193 countries analyzed by the UN in regards to gender parity in Parliament) women currently hold 42% of the Lower House and 26.1% of the Senate or Upper House in Parliament. Women hold 42.9% of the country’s ministerial positions (3 out of 7). 

In the United Kingdom (which ranks 39 out of 193 countries analyzed by the UN in regards to gender parity in Parliament, tied with Cameroon) women currently hold 33.9% of the Lower House and 27.9% of the Senate or Upper House in Parliament. Women hold 23.8% of the country’s ministerial positions (5 out of 21).

Facts & Figures
–  by Sparknews