Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Asia
Asia: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments was 21.1% in 2026. ▲ Rising
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Asia, 2000–2026
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Asia is 21.1%, measured in 2026.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 17.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Asia peaked at 21.2% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 12.1%, in 2000.
Asia ranks 34th of 42 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 12.1% | — |
| 2001 | 12.5% | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 12.7% | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 13.4% | +5.1% |
| 2004 | 12.6% | -5.8% |
| 2005 | 13.3% | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 14.3% | +7.8% |
| 2007 | 14.5% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 15.3% | +5.4% |
| 2009 | 16.2% | +5.6% |
| 2010 | 16.8% | +4.1% |
| 2011 | 16.7% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 17.0% | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 17.4% | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 17.5% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 17.8% | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 17.9% | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 18.4% | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 17.9% | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 18.8% | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 19.5% | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 19.8% | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 20.2% | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 20.2% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 20.7% | +2.5% |
| 2025 | 21.2% | +2.2% |
| 2026 | 21.1% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13.7% | 12.1% | 16.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.6% | 16.7% | 18.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.4% | 19.5% | 21.2% | 7 |
Countries ranked near Asia
- 33 Switzerland 39.7% compare
- 34 Burundi 39.6% compare
- 35 Republic of Moldova 39.6% compare
- 35 Moldova 39.6% compare
- 37 Armenia 39.2% compare
More gender data for Asia
- Number of seats held by women in national parliaments 2,453 (2026)
- Proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia 33.6% (2023)
- Proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia, pregnant 35.2% (2023)
- Proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia, non-pregnant 33.5% (2023)
- Proportion of women in managerial positions - 13th ICLS 19.6% (2025)
- Ratio for female members of parliaments (Ratio of the proportion of) 0.4% (2026)
- Ratio for female members of parliaments (Ratio of the proportion of) 0.5% (2026)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Asia?
- Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Asia was 21.1% in 2026, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments recorded in Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 21.2% in 2025.
- What is the lowest proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments recorded in Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.1% in 2000.
- How does Asia rank for proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments?
- Asia ranks 34th out of 42 groups with data for 2026.
- Is proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments rising or falling in Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Asia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments (% of total number of seats). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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