Countries With the Lowest Women in a Union
Every country with a figure for women in a union, ranked from lowest to highest. The top three are South Africa (33.6%), Namibia (33.7%) and Antigua and Barbuda (33.8%). The middle country of the 206 has 56%.
What this measures
Share of women aged 15 to 49 who are married or in a union, in % of women aged 15-49. Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. For this measure, no agreed better direction.
A snapshot of how many women are in a union at one time, not a count of new unions each year. It counts couples living together as a union, which the OECD marriage rate does not. So the two can disagree without either being wrong, and their pair is worth reading for exactly that. The UN estimates it with a statistical model from survey and census data, for over two hundred countries. No "better" direction is set.
The full ranking
Each country’s latest figure, from 2010–2024. The year beside each value says when it was measured.
| Rank | Country | Women in a union | Year | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 33.6% | 2020 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 2 | Namibia | 33.7% | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 3 | Antigua and Barbuda | 33.8% | 2011 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 4 | Jamaica | 35.2% | 2022 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 5 | Eswatini | 36.4% | 2022 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 6 | Northern Mariana Islands | 38.2% | 2020 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 7 | Bahamas, The | 38.7% | 2010 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 8 | Greenland | 38.8% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 9 | Guam | 40.4% | 2020 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 10 | Puerto Rico (US) | 40.9% | 2022 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 11 | Botswana | 41.5% | 2017 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 12 | Costa Rica | 41.7% | 2022 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 13 | Trinidad and Tobago | 42.7% | 2022 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 14 | Libya | 43.8% | 2014 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 15 | Singapore | 43.8% | 2020 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 16 | Seychelles | 44.6% | 2022 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 17 | Cabo Verde | 45% | 2021 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 18 | Ecuador | 45.3% | 2022 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 19 | Gibraltar | 46.2% | 2012 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 20 | New Caledonia | 46.4% | 2019 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 21 | Djibouti | 46.5% | 2017 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 22 | Aruba | 46.8% | 2020 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 23 | Lesotho | 46.9% | 2021 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 24 | Ireland | 47.1% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 25 | Slovenia | 47.2% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 26 | American Samoa | 47.4% | 2020 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 27 | Taiwan | 47.6% | 2020 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 28 | Palau | 48.3% | 2020 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 29 | Dominica | 48.4% | 2011 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 30 | Chile | 48.5% | 2022 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 31 | Iceland | 48.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 32 | Gabon | 48.5% | 2020 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 33 | Virgin Islands (U.S.) | 48.5% | 2020 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 34 | Curacao | 49.1% | 2011 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 35 | Slovak Republic | 49.2% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 36 | Latvia | 49.6% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 37 | Bermuda | 49.7% | 2016 | North America |
| 38 | United Kingdom | 49.7% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 39 | Argentina | 49.7% | 2020 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 40 | Hong Kong SAR, China | 49.8% | 2021 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 41 | Korea, Rep. | 49.8% | 2015 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 42 | Rwanda | 49.9% | 2022 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 43 | Japan | 50% | 2020 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 44 | Croatia | 50.1% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 45 | Spain | 50.2% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 46 | Bolivia | 50.2% | 2022 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 47 | Israel | 50.4% | 2021 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 48 | Portugal | 50.6% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 49 | El Salvador | 50.7% | 2021 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 50 | Tonga | 50.7% | 2021 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 51 | Colombia | 50.9% | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 52 | Luxembourg | 51.1% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 53 | St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 51.1% | 2012 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 54 | Liberia | 51.4% | 2020 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 55 | Venezuela, RB | 51.5% | 2011 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 56 | Canada | 51.6% | 2021 | North America |
| 57 | Mauritius | 51.6% | 2022 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 58 | Lithuania | 51.8% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 59 | Italy | 51.8% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 60 | Malta | 52% | 2021 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 61 | United States | 52.1% | 2022 | North America |
| 62 | Suriname | 52.2% | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 63 | Cyprus | 52.3% | 2011 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 64 | Hungary | 52.3% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 65 | Faroe Islands | 52.3% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 66 | Greece | 52.4% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 67 | Lebanon | 52.4% | 2019 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 68 | Belgium | 52.4% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 69 | Thailand | 52.4% | 2022 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 70 | Tunisia | 52.5% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 71 | Peru | 52.7% | 2022 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 72 | Mexico | 53% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 73 | Sao Tome and Principe | 53.1% | 2019 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 74 | Panama | 53.2% | 2023 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 75 | Dominican Republic | 53.2% | 2019 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 76 | Kenya | 53.2% | 2022 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 77 | St. Lucia | 53.3% | 2012 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 78 | Ghana | 53.4% | 2022 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 79 | Netherlands | 53.5% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 80 | Uruguay | 53.6% | 2013 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 81 | Cayman Islands | 53.6% | 2010 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 82 | Haiti | 53.6% | 2017 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 83 | Sweden | 53.6% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 84 | Czechia | 53.7% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 85 | Australia | 54% | 2021 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 86 | Estonia | 54.1% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 87 | Brunei Darussalam | 54.2% | 2011 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 88 | Serbia | 54.3% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 89 | Denmark | 54.3% | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 90 | Germany | 54.4% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 91 | Honduras | 54.4% | 2019 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 92 | Macao SAR, China | 54.6% | 2021 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 93 | Paraguay | 54.8% | 2022 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 94 | France | 54.9% | 2020 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 95 | Congo, Rep. | 55.3% | 2015 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 96 | Saudi Arabia | 55.3% | 2022 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 97 | Algeria | 55.5% | 2019 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 98 | Philippines | 55.6% | 2022 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 99 | San Marino | 55.7% | 2013 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 100 | Zambia | 55.7% | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 101 | Oman | 55.8% | 2020 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 102 | Jordan | 56% | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 103 | Romania | 56% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 104 | Nicaragua | 56% | 2012 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 105 | Guatemala | 56.2% | 2018 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 106 | Timor-Leste | 56.4% | 2022 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 107 | Bahrain | 56.4% | 2020 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 108 | Bulgaria | 56.6% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 109 | Austria | 56.6% | 2013 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 110 | Brazil | 56.9% | 2019 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 111 | Malaysia | 57.1% | 2010 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 112 | Finland | 57.1% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 113 | Angola | 57.2% | 2016 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 114 | Barbados | 57.2% | 2021 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 115 | Kyrgyz Republic | 57.4% | 2023 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 116 | Norway | 57.4% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 117 | Switzerland | 57.5% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 118 | Russian Federation | 57.6% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 119 | Montenegro | 57.6% | 2018 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 120 | New Zealand | 57.7% | 2018 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 121 | Naoero | 57.7% | 2021 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 122 | Uganda | 57.8% | 2022 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 123 | Myanmar | 58% | 2019 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 124 | Morocco | 58% | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 125 | Belize | 58% | 2015 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 126 | Cameroon | 58.1% | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 127 | Congo, Dem. Rep. | 58.2% | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 128 | Burundi | 58.2% | 2017 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 129 | Poland | 58.6% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 130 | Cuba | 58.6% | 2019 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 131 | Guinea-Bissau | 59% | 2019 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 132 | Guyana | 59% | 2020 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 133 | Fiji | 59.2% | 2021 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 134 | Tanzania | 59.2% | 2022 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 135 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 59.3% | 2020 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 136 | Kuwait | 59.5% | 2011 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 137 | Turkiye | 59.6% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 138 | Azerbaijan | 59.7% | 2019 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 139 | Eritrea | 60.1% | 2010 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 140 | Mongolia | 60.2% | 2020 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 141 | Equatorial Guinea | 61.1% | 2011 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 142 | Armenia | 61.5% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 143 | Sierra Leone | 61.5% | 2019 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 144 | Lao PDR | 61.6% | 2017 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 145 | Kosovo | 61.6% | 2020 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 146 | Ukraine | 61.9% | 2012 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 147 | Samoa | 62% | 2020 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 148 | Bhutan | 62% | 2022 | South Asia |
| 149 | Malawi | 62.1% | 2020 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 150 | Zimbabwe | 62.2% | 2022 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 151 | Madagascar | 62.3% | 2021 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 152 | Belarus | 62.4% | 2019 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 153 | West Bank and Gaza | 62.4% | 2020 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 154 | Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 62.4% | 2019 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 155 | Sudan | 62.6% | 2014 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 156 | Cote d'Ivoire | 62.7% | 2021 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 157 | Gambia, The | 63% | 2020 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 158 | Comoros | 63.1% | 2022 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 159 | Pakistan | 63.4% | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 160 | Togo | 63.7% | 2017 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 161 | Kazakhstan | 63.8% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 162 | Yemen, Rep. | 63.9% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 163 | Tuvalu | 64.2% | 2020 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 164 | Iraq | 64.3% | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 165 | Solomon Islands | 64.5% | 2019 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 166 | Qatar | 64.6% | 2020 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 167 | Liechtenstein | 64.7% | 2020 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 168 | Mozambique | 64.8% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 169 | Turkmenistan | 65% | 2019 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 170 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 65.3% | 2011 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 171 | Georgia | 65.3% | 2018 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 172 | Central African Republic | 65.4% | 2019 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 173 | Senegal | 65.5% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 174 | Egypt, Arab Rep. | 65.6% | 2021 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 175 | Albania | 65.7% | 2018 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 176 | Benin | 65.7% | 2022 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 177 | Afghanistan | 65.9% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 178 | Mauritania | 66.1% | 2020 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 179 | North Macedonia | 66.1% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 180 | Sri Lanka | 66.3% | 2016 | South Asia |
| 181 | Ethiopia | 66.3% | 2019 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 182 | French Polynesia | 66.8% | 2017 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 183 | Papua New Guinea | 66.9% | 2018 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 184 | Cambodia | 67.2% | 2022 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 185 | United Arab Emirates | 67.4% | 2018 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 186 | Kiribati | 67.4% | 2020 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 187 | Nigeria | 67.6% | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 188 | Tajikistan | 68% | 2020 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 189 | Korea, Dem. People's Rep. | 68.2% | 2017 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 190 | Maldives | 68.4% | 2022 | South Asia |
| 191 | Vanuatu | 68.6% | 2020 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 192 | Moldova | 68.7% | 2020 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 193 | China | 69.5% | 2021 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 194 | Iran, Islamic Rep. | 69.6% | 2022 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 195 | Indonesia | 70.3% | 2022 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 196 | Guinea | 70.9% | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 197 | India | 72.3% | 2020 | South Asia |
| 198 | Chad | 72.6% | 2019 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 199 | Viet Nam | 72.8% | 2021 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 200 | Burkina Faso | 74.3% | 2021 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 201 | Uzbekistan | 74.7% | 2022 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 202 | Nepal | 75.1% | 2022 | South Asia |
| 203 | South Sudan | 78.3% | 2010 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 204 | Mali | 79.2% | 2018 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 205 | Bangladesh | 80.6% | 2022 | South Asia |
| 206 | Niger | 81.3% | 2021 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
More on women in a union
- Countries With the Highest Women in a Union
- Women in a union by country: trend over time and what it goes with
Related rankings
- Countries With the Lowest Religious Attendance
- Countries With the Lowest Religion Very Important
- Countries With the Lowest Frequent Prayer
- Countries With the Lowest Confidence in Religious Institutions
- Countries With the Lowest Divorce Rates
- Countries With the Lowest Births Outside Marriage
- Countries With the Lowest Women's Age at First Marriage
- Countries With the Lowest Marriage Rates
A ranking describes countries, not the people in them, and a high or low place does not by itself say why. All country rankings.