Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Australia
Australia: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments was 46.0% in 2026. ▲ Rising
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Australia, 2000–2026
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2026, proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Australia stood at 46.0%. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.
The figure is up 17.7% on the previous year and up 72.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Australia peaked at 46.0% in 2026 and was at its lowest, 22.4%, in 2000.
That places Australia 10th out of 210 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the top 10%.
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 Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 22.4% | — |
| 2001 | 23.0% | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 25.3% | +10.3% |
| 2003 | 25.3% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 25.3% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 24.7% | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 24.7% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 24.7% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 26.7% | +8.1% |
| 2009 | 26.7% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 27.3% | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 24.7% | -9.7% |
| 2012 | 24.7% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 24.7% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 26.0% | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 26.7% | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 26.7% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 28.7% | +7.5% |
| 2018 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 30.0% | +4.6% |
| 2020 | 30.5% | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 31.1% | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 31.1% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 38.4% | +23.4% |
| 2024 | 38.0% | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 39.1% | +2.8% |
| 2026 | 46.0% | +17.7% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 46.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 31.2%, 1.5× the median. (63 countries reporting)
- Australia's 46.0% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 15.4%, 3.0× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 24.9% | 22.4% | 26.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.8% | 24.7% | 30.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.3% | 30.5% | 46.0% | 7 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 8 Costa Rica 49.1% compare
- 9 Iceland 46.0% compare
- 11 Cabo Verde 45.8% compare
- 11 Monaco 45.8% compare
- 13 Australia and New Zealand 45.8% compare
More gender data for Australia
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 4,759 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.0804 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 23,430 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 23,430 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.02 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 149,630 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 157,746 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 150,777 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 158,898 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 151,066 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Australia?
- Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Australia was 46.0% 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 Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 46.0% in 2026.
- What is the lowest proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.4% in 2000.
- How does Australia rank for proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments?
- Australia ranks 10th out of 210 countries with data for 2026.
- Is proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 72.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia 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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