Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Central America
Central America: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments was 39.9% in 2026. ▲ Rising
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Central America, 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 Central America is 39.9%, measured in 2026. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 22.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Central America peaked at 39.9% in 2026 and was at its lowest, 12.9%, in 2001.
Central America ranks 2nd of 42 groups on this measure, 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 Central America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 14.3% | — |
| 2001 | 12.9% | -9.6% |
| 2002 | 13.9% | +7.3% |
| 2003 | 14.2% | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 16.9% | +18.5% |
| 2005 | 17.4% | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 20.1% | +15.8% |
| 2007 | 19.9% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 20.5% | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 20.6% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 21.6% | +5.0% |
| 2011 | 21.0% | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 23.0% | +9.3% |
| 2013 | 28.3% | +23.3% |
| 2014 | 29.3% | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 30.1% | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 32.5% | +7.8% |
| 2017 | 33.1% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 32.5% | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 36.3% | +11.5% |
| 2020 | 36.9% | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 37.1% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 38.4% | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 38.6% | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 39.0% | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 39.6% | +1.7% |
| 2026 | 39.9% | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.1% | 12.9% | 20.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.8% | 21.0% | 36.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.5% | 36.9% | 39.9% | 7 |
Countries ranked near Central America
More gender data for Central America
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 44,718 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.8019 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 148,603 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 148,603 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2030)
- Inactivity rate (ILO modelled estimates) 38.75 (2027)
- SDG indicator 1.1.1: Working poverty rate 2.59 (2025)
- SDG indicator 5.5.2: Proportion of women in managerial positions 38.33 (2025)
- Number of seats held by women in national parliaments 438 (2026)
- Proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia 13.8% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Central America?
- Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Central America was 39.9% 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 Central America?
- The highest recorded value was 39.9% in 2026.
- What is the lowest proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments recorded in Central America?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.9% in 2001.
- How does Central America rank for proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments?
- Central America ranks 2nd out of 42 groups with data for 2026.
- Is proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments rising or falling in Central America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Central America 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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