placestats

Women in parliament

Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments (%)

Link with national income+0.28largely independent of national income
Links that hold up6of 158 pairs tested
Unit% of seatshigher is better
SourceWDICC BY 4.0

How it has moved

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Every country, every year

One row per country and one column per year, sorted by the most recent value. Hover over any cell to see the figure. The country names link to each country’s page.

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Links that hold up

r is how closely two measures rise and fall together across countries, from −1 (opposite) to +1 (in step), where 0 means no link. These pairs are ranked by the link after adjusting for national income, which means comparing countries with the same GDP per person. Each pair passed three checks. The link held after that adjustment. It was unlikely to be chance (q of 0.05 or less), even allowing for countries in the same region being alike and for the many pairs tested. And the two are not just two measures of the same thing. Very small q values are written in short form: 8.0e-5 means 0.000080.

MeasureBefore adjustingAfter adjustingqCountriesTracks income?
Women in parliament and Births outside marriageWhere Women in parliament is higher, Births outside marriage tends to be higher: a strong link that holds when only countries with similar income are compared. Births outside marriage by country+0.70+0.710.00342independent
Women in parliament and Women ministersWhere Women in parliament is higher, Women ministers tends to be higher: a moderate link that holds when only countries with similar income are compared. Women ministers by country+0.57+0.540.019185independent
Women in parliament and Women's age at first marriageWhere Women in parliament is higher, Women's age at first marriage tends to be higher: a moderate link that holds when only countries with similar income are compared. Women's age at first marriage by country+0.51+0.490.04840moderate
Women in parliament and Women's political empowermentWhere Women in parliament is higher, Women's political empowerment tends to be higher: a weak link that holds when only countries with similar income are compared. Women's political empowerment by country+0.45+0.400.019166moderate
Women in parliament and Hours workedWhere Women in parliament is higher, Hours worked tends to be lower: a weak link that holds when only countries with similar income are compared. Hours worked by country-0.24-0.300.02638high
Women in parliament and Youth not in work or studyWhere Women in parliament is higher, Youth not in work or study tends to be lower: a weak link that holds when only countries with similar income are compared. Youth not in work or study by country-0.23-0.110.037167high

Links that don’t count as findings

These go together strongly, but they are built from the same numbers or measure the same thing. So they are bound to match, or their match shows that the measures agree, not something about the world.

MeasureBefore adjustingAfter adjustingqCountriesTracks income?
Women in parliament and Gender scoreNot an independent finding: one of these indices is built partly from the other, so their agreement is just arithmetic. Gender score by country+0.76+0.740.007179moderate
Women in parliament and Gender Inequality IndexNot an independent finding: one of these indices is built partly from the other, so their agreement is just arithmetic. Gender Inequality Index by country-0.36-0.380.061169proxy

How much the other measures account for

The 71 most widely reported measures boil down to a few broad patterns. This table shows how much of the differences between countries on this measure those patterns account for, adding one pattern at a time. The patterns are rebuilt without this measure, and without anything built from the same numbers or measuring the same thing. So it never predicts itself under another name. The figures use the 133 countries reporting all of them, and 70 candidate measures.

This shows how much it moves with the others. It does not explain anything. Measures that move together end up on the same pattern whether or not anything connects them. And the countries here are the best-documented ones. A high figure means this measure is largely predictable from the others, not that they produce it.
Patterns usedShare of this measure accounted forAdded by this pattern
15%—
219%+14%
319%+0%
420%+1%
521%+1%
623%+2%

This measure sits on one of the smaller patterns, not on the one all the measures share.

How it differs by category

This compares the measure across groups of countries, such as those sharing a main religion, instead of against another number. The figure is the share of the differences between countries on this measure that lies between the groups, on a scale from 0 to 1. It is shown before and after adjusting for national income.

The “between groups” figure runs from 0 (the groups are no different) to 1 (the groups explain all the differences between countries). Groups have no up or down, so this says how much the groups differ, never which way. For that, read the group averages. The figure also tends to rise when there are more groups. So to judge whether it could be chance (q), we shuffle the same labels among the same countries many times and see how often a figure this big turns up. Then we allow for the fact that many measures are checked at once, since with enough checks a few big figures turn up by luck alone. Groups with fewer than 12 countries are left out. And countries that share a label share a lot else. Adjusting for income rules out one third factor, but leaves language, region, legal tradition and history untouched.

Grouped byBetween groupsAfter incomeqGroups at each end
Last European coloniser0.420.400.006best: Spain 34.8% · worst: France 19.8%
% of seats
Largest religious group0.310.290.005best: Christians 28.7% · worst: Muslims 20%
% of seats

Every other pair

Everything else this measure was tested against, apart from the links that hold up and the pairs built from the same numbers. Sorted by the link after adjusting. Search by name; every column sorts. A small adjusted figure is a result too. It says the two do not move together once income is set aside.

150 of 150
Women in parliament and Marriage rateCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Marriage rate by country-0.45-0.450.15746independent
Women in parliament and Religion very importantCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Religion very important by country-0.46-0.440.085102high
Women in parliament and Aid givenCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Aid given by country+0.48+0.400.23747high
Women in parliament and Wellbeing scoreCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Wellbeing score by country+0.38+0.350.214102high
Women in parliament and Children with one parentCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Children with one parent by country+0.36+0.340.27038independent
Women in parliament and Life satisfactionCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Life satisfaction by country+0.35+0.340.149156proxy
Women in parliament and Gender wage gapCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Gender wage gap by country-0.34-0.330.46538independent
Women in parliament and Fixed broadbandCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Fixed broadband by country+0.38+0.330.208185proxy
Women in parliament and Single-parent householdsCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Single-parent households by country+0.29+0.320.080141independent
Women in parliament and Alcohol consumptionCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Alcohol consumption by country+0.36+0.290.232182moderate
Women in parliament and ResearchersCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Researchers by country+0.31+0.280.298127proxy
Women in parliament and Government spending per capitaCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Government spending per capita by country+0.35+0.270.13543proxy
Women in parliament and Frequent prayerCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Frequent prayer by country-0.30-0.260.27774high
Women in parliament and Interpersonal trustCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Interpersonal trust by country+0.32+0.260.321102high
Women in parliament and Participatory democracyCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Participatory democracy by country+0.33+0.260.160166moderate
Women in parliament and Active labour market spendingCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Active labour market spending by country+0.25+0.260.08542moderate
Women in parliament and Regime typeCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Regime type by country+0.33+0.250.188166moderate
Women in parliament and One-person householdsCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. One-person households by country+0.32+0.250.173141high
Women in parliament and Trust in governmentCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Trust in government by country+0.27+0.250.28447moderate
Women in parliament and PISA readingCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. PISA reading by country+0.35+0.250.18883high
Women in parliament and Adult obesityCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Adult obesity by country-0.16-0.240.366184moderate
Women in parliament and Religiously unaffiliatedCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Religiously unaffiliated by country+0.31+0.240.131176moderate
Women in parliament and Christian shareCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Christian share by country+0.23+0.240.171176independent
Women in parliament and Government effectivenessCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Government effectiveness by country+0.32+0.220.363185proxy
Women in parliament and Confidence in religious institutionsCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Confidence in religious institutions by country-0.29-0.220.301102moderate
Women in parliament and Regulatory qualityCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Regulatory quality by country+0.32+0.220.347185proxy
Women in parliament and Health scoreCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Health score by country+0.28+0.220.351185moderate
Women in parliament and Premature NCD mortalityCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Premature NCD mortality by country-0.30-0.220.403177high
Women in parliament and Population 65+Could easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Population 65+ by country+0.32+0.210.082185high
Women in parliament and Muslim shareCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Muslim share by country-0.25-0.210.219176independent
Women in parliament and Anaemia in womenCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Anaemia in women by country-0.32-0.210.168184high
Women in parliament and Free and fair electionsCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Free and fair elections by country+0.30+0.210.326166high
Women in parliament and Electoral democracyCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Electoral democracy by country+0.28+0.200.351166moderate
Women in parliament and Female labor participationCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Female labor participation by country+0.20+0.200.118172independent
Women in parliament and Corporate tax rateAlmost no link either way. Corporate tax rate by country+0.04+0.190.05180moderate
Women in parliament and Liberal democracyCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Liberal democracy by country+0.28+0.190.367166moderate
Women in parliament and Corruption Perceptions IndexCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Corruption Perceptions Index by country+0.28+0.190.435172high
Women in parliament and Agricultural landCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Agricultural land by country+0.11+0.190.116185independent
Women in parliament and Tertiary enrollmentCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Tertiary enrollment by country+0.27+0.180.160169high
Women in parliament and Infrastructure scoreCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Infrastructure score by country+0.29+0.180.253185proxy
Women in parliament and Governance scoreCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Governance score by country+0.27+0.180.468169moderate
Women in parliament and Self-reported happinessCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Self-reported happiness by country+0.22+0.170.189102moderate
Women in parliament and Expected schoolingCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Expected schooling by country+0.29+0.170.122185proxy
Women in parliament and PISA scienceCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. PISA science by country+0.30+0.170.25983high
Women in parliament and Tobacco useCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Tobacco use by country-0.11-0.170.299163independent
Women in parliament and Marriage rate (UN)Could easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Marriage rate (UN) by country-0.19-0.170.33092independent
Women in parliament and Pupil-teacher ratioAlmost no link either way. Pupil-teacher ratio by country-0.07+0.160.328171proxy
Women in parliament and Suicide rateCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Suicide rate by country+0.20+0.160.372177independent
Women in parliament and Equality scoreAlmost no link either way. Equality score by country+0.06-0.160.340161high
Women in parliament and PhysiciansCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Physicians by country+0.28+0.160.277185proxy
Women in parliament and Public social spendingCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Public social spending by country+0.16+0.150.65242moderate
Women in parliament and Environment scoreAlmost no link either way. Environment score by country+0.04+0.150.347184moderate
Women in parliament and Adolescent fertilityAlmost no link either way. Adolescent fertility by country-0.09+0.150.397185proxy
Women in parliament and Unemployment benefit spendingCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Unemployment benefit spending by country+0.21+0.150.63639moderate
Women in parliament and Political corruptionCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Political corruption by country-0.26-0.150.416166high
Women in parliament and CO2 per capitaAlmost no link either way. CO2 per capita by country-0.03-0.150.433181proxy
Women in parliament and Voice and accountabilityCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Voice and accountability by country+0.25+0.140.609185moderate
Women in parliament and Family benefits spendingCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Family benefits spending by country+0.15+0.140.57642independent
Women in parliament and Military spendingCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Military spending by country-0.12-0.140.415155independent
Women in parliament and Extreme poverty rateCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Extreme poverty rate by country-0.12+0.140.496161proxy
Women in parliament and Basic water accessCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Basic water access by country+0.12-0.130.101184proxy
Women in parliament and Control of corruptionCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Control of corruption by country+0.26+0.130.649185high
Women in parliament and PISA mathsCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. PISA maths by country+0.27+0.120.52983high
Women in parliament and Religious attendanceCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Religious attendance by country-0.26-0.120.555100high
Women in parliament and Women in a unionCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Women in a union by country-0.19-0.120.192179moderate
Women in parliament and Gini indexAlmost no link either way. Gini index by country+0.04+0.120.509161moderate
Women in parliament and Married by 18Almost no link either way. Married by 18 by country-0.01+0.120.605133moderate
Women in parliament and Health spendingCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Health spending by country+0.16+0.120.638185independent
Women in parliament and Civil society participationCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Civil society participation by country+0.16+0.110.608166independent
Women in parliament and Freedom of associationCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Freedom of association by country+0.17+0.110.676166moderate
Women in parliament and Electricity accessCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Electricity access by country+0.11-0.110.433185high
Women in parliament and Market-income GiniAlmost no link either way. Market-income Gini by country-0.02+0.110.71545moderate
Women in parliament and Political rights (FH)Could easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Political rights (FH) by country-0.20-0.110.626185moderate
Women in parliament and Employment in agricultureCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Employment in agriculture by country-0.12+0.110.429172proxy
Women in parliament and Primary completionCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Primary completion by country+0.13-0.100.527160proxy
Women in parliament and Divorce rateCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Divorce rate by country-0.12-0.100.57245independent
Women in parliament and Public order spendingAlmost no link either way. Public order spending by country-0.08+0.100.85237high
Women in parliament and Mobile subscriptionsAlmost no link either way. Mobile subscriptions by country+0.02-0.100.207185moderate
Women in parliament and Hospital bedsAlmost no link either way. Hospital beds by country+0.01-0.100.549170high
Women in parliament and Life expectancyCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Life expectancy by country+0.25+0.100.617185proxy
Women in parliament and InflationAlmost no link either way. Inflation by country+0.06+0.090.164181independent
Women in parliament and Civil liberties (FH)Could easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Civil liberties (FH) by country-0.19-0.090.694185moderate
Women in parliament and Protected landCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Protected land by country+0.13+0.090.344184independent
Women in parliament and Median ageCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Median age by country+0.25+0.080.441185proxy
Women in parliament and GDP growthAlmost no link either way. GDP growth by country+0.04+0.080.500185moderate
Women in parliament and Retirement age, menCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Retirement age, men by country-0.15-0.080.80749independent
Women in parliament and Tax revenueCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Tax revenue by country+0.16+0.080.386150moderate
Women in parliament and HDICould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. HDI by country+0.25+0.080.659185proxy
Women in parliament and Informal employmentCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Informal employment by country-0.17+0.080.766139proxy
Women in parliament and Health coverage indexCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Health coverage index by country+0.25+0.080.452185proxy
Women in parliament and Political civil libertiesCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Political civil liberties by country+0.14+0.080.785166moderate
Women in parliament and Population growthAlmost no link either way. Population growth by country-0.04+0.070.722185moderate
Women in parliament and HIV prevalenceAlmost no link either way. HIV prevalence by country+0.01+0.070.329148moderate
Women in parliament and Migrant share of populationAlmost no link either way. Migrant share of population by country+0.08-0.070.783185high
Women in parliament and Refugees originatingCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Refugees originating by country-0.12-0.070.282183moderate
Women in parliament and Compulsory schoolingCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Compulsory schooling by country+0.16+0.070.704175moderate
Women in parliament and Food insecurityCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Food insecurity by country-0.25+0.070.760154proxy
Women in parliament and UndernourishmentCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Undernourishment by country-0.26-0.070.641161proxy
Women in parliament and Inequality-adjusted HDICould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Inequality-adjusted HDI by country+0.29+0.060.804165proxy
Women in parliament and Recycling rateAlmost no link either way. Recycling rate by country-0.02-0.060.82535moderate
Women in parliament and Political stabilityAlmost no link either way. Political stability by country+0.09-0.060.830185moderate
Women in parliament and Retirement age, womenAlmost no link either way. Retirement age, women by country+0.03+0.060.86749independent
Women in parliament and Freedom of expressionCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Freedom of expression by country+0.11+0.060.815166moderate
Women in parliament and Slum share of urban populationCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Slum share of urban population by country-0.14+0.060.751177high
Women in parliament and Armed conflict presentAlmost no link either way. Armed conflict present by country-0.04+0.060.803185moderate
Women in parliament and Government expenseAlmost no link either way. Government expense by country+0.02-0.060.547149moderate
Women in parliament and Tuberculosis incidenceCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Tuberculosis incidence by country-0.17-0.060.580185high
Women in parliament and UrbanizationCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Urbanization by country+0.20+0.060.850185high
Women in parliament and DTP3 immunisationAlmost no link either way. DTP3 immunisation by country+0.08-0.050.675185moderate
Women in parliament and Primary enrollmentAlmost no link either way. Primary enrollment by country+0.04+0.050.702182independent
Women in parliament and Homicide rateAlmost no link either way. Homicide rate by country+0.02+0.050.762159moderate
Women in parliament and Secondary enrollmentCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Secondary enrollment by country+0.20+0.050.813177high
Women in parliament and Road traffic deathsCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Road traffic deaths by country-0.12+0.050.778182high
Women in parliament and Trade opennessAlmost no link either way. Trade openness by country+0.05-0.050.763168moderate
Women in parliament and Birth rateCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Birth rate by country-0.19+0.050.522185proxy
Women in parliament and Adult literacyAlmost no link either way. Adult literacy by country+0.05-0.040.869130high
Women in parliament and Birth registrationCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Birth registration by country+0.16-0.040.562164proxy
Women in parliament and Rule of lawCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Rule of law by country+0.20+0.040.906185high
Women in parliament and Education spendingAlmost no link either way. Education spending by country+0.05+0.040.873177independent
Women in parliament and Maternal mortalityCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Maternal mortality by country-0.19-0.030.889185proxy
Women in parliament and Vulnerable employmentCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Vulnerable employment by country-0.17+0.030.851172proxy
Women in parliament and Child stuntingAlmost no link either way. Child stunting by country-0.10+0.030.833154proxy
Women in parliament and RedistributionCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Redistribution by country+0.13-0.030.91245moderate
Women in parliament and Infant mortalityCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Infant mortality by country-0.18+0.030.896185proxy
Women in parliament and Skilled birth attendanceCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Skilled birth attendance by country+0.11-0.030.883173high
Women in parliament and Under-5 mortalityCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Under-5 mortality by country-0.17+0.030.908185proxy
Women in parliament and Divorce rate (UN)Almost no link either way. Divorce rate (UN) by country+0.03+0.030.88085independent
Women in parliament and Education scoreCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Education score by country+0.20+0.020.915183proxy
Women in parliament and Basic sanitationCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Basic sanitation by country+0.19-0.020.887184high
Women in parliament and Gender Development IndexCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Gender Development Index by country+0.13-0.020.884178high
Women in parliament and UnemploymentAlmost no link either way. Unemployment by country+0.01+0.020.903172independent
Women in parliament and Women in managementAlmost no link either way. Women in management by country+0.10+0.020.908147moderate
Women in parliament and FDI inflowsAlmost no link either way. FDI inflows by country+0.02+0.010.837185independent
Women in parliament and Mean years of schoolingCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Mean years of schooling by country+0.19-0.010.960185proxy
Women in parliament and Age at childbearingAlmost no link either way. Age at childbearing by country+0.10-0.010.966185moderate
Women in parliament and Out of school, primaryCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Out of school, primary by country-0.10+0.010.943176moderate
Women in parliament and Out-of-pocket health spendingAlmost no link either way. Out-of-pocket health spending by country-0.07+0.010.971185moderate
Women in parliament and Old-age spendingAlmost no link either way. Old-age spending by country+0.02+0.010.97542independent
Women in parliament and Fertility rateCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Fertility rate by country-0.19+0.010.926185proxy
Women in parliament and Population 0-14Could easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Population 0-14 by country-0.21-0.010.925185proxy
Women in parliament and Forest areaAlmost no link either way. Forest area by country+0.00-0.010.981185independent
Women in parliament and Government consumptionAlmost no link either way. Government consumption by country+0.03+0.010.963166independent
Women in parliament and Pre-trial detainee shareAlmost no link either way. Pre-trial detainee share by country-0.07-0.010.981162independent
Women in parliament and Labour scoreCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Labour score by country+0.16+0.010.950180high
Women in parliament and Conflict deathsAlmost no link either way. Conflict deaths by country-0.03-0.000.969185moderate
Women in parliament and Internet usersCould easily be chance once only countries with similar income are compared. Internet users by country+0.21-0.000.990185proxy
Women in parliament and Male labor participationAlmost no link either way. Male labor participation by country+0.00-0.000.997172independent
Women in parliament and GDP per capita (PPP)One side of this pair is national income itself, the thing the other figures adjust for. Adjusting income for income leaves nothing, so there is no adjusted figure. The unadjusted link shows how closely the other measure follows income. GDP per capita (PPP) by country+0.25——185proxy
Women in parliament and GNI per capita (PPP)One side of this pair is national income itself, the thing the other figures adjust for. Adjusting income for income leaves nothing, so there is no adjusted figure. The unadjusted link shows how closely the other measure follows income. GNI per capita (PPP) by country+0.25——185proxy
Women in parliament and GDP per capita (market)One side of this pair is national income itself, the thing the other figures adjust for. Adjusting income for income leaves nothing, so there is no adjusted figure. The unadjusted link shows how closely the other measure follows income. GDP per capita (market) by country+0.29——185proxy

Source

Inter-Parliamentary Union

CC BY 4.0 · licence terms · updated quarterly

World Bank, World Development Indicators