South Africa vs Sweden: Number of seats held by women in national parliaments (number)
South Africa
179
in 2026
Sweden
156
in 2026
South Africa rank
11th
Sweden rank
14th
Number of seats held by women in national parliaments (number) over time
- South Africa
- Sweden
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 179 against 156 in Sweden, a difference of 23.
That makes South Africa's figure about 1.1 times Sweden's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 27 shared years of data; in 2000 it was Sweden ahead.
South Africa ranks 11th and Sweden ranks 14th of 212 countries.
Across the 3 decades both report, South Africa averaged higher in 2 and Sweden in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | Sweden | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 125.3 | 157.2 | 31.9 | Sweden |
| 2010s | 170.9 | 156.1 | 14.8 | South Africa |
| 2020s | 181.71 | 161 | 20.71 | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher number of seats held by women in national parliaments, South Africa or Sweden?
- South Africa, at 179 against 156 in Sweden as of 2026.
- What is the difference in number of seats held by women in national parliaments between South Africa and Sweden?
- 23, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Sweden?
- 27 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2026.
- How do South Africa and Sweden rank globally for number of seats held by women in national parliaments?
- South Africa ranks 11th and Sweden ranks 14th of 212 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as Number of seats held by women in national parliaments (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.