Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Northern Africa and Western Asia
Northern Africa and Western Asia: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments was 18.5% in 2026. ▲ Rising
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Northern Africa and Western 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 Northern Africa and Western Asia is 18.5%, measured in 2026.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and up 3.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Northern Africa and Western Asia peaked at 19.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 5.3%, in 2000.
That places Northern Africa and Western Asia 37th out of 42 groups with data for 2026, putting it 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 Northern Africa and Western Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.3% | — |
| 2001 | 5.5% | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 5.6% | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 6.8% | +21.7% |
| 2004 | 6.8% | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 7.5% | +10.9% |
| 2006 | 8.6% | +14.8% |
| 2007 | 9.7% | +11.9% |
| 2008 | 10.4% | +8.2% |
| 2009 | 10.4% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 10.9% | +5.2% |
| 2011 | 12.0% | +9.9% |
| 2012 | 12.8% | +6.9% |
| 2013 | 17.0% | +32.2% |
| 2014 | 17.0% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 17.2% | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 17.8% | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 18.4% | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 18.1% | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 18.7% | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 17.4% | -6.9% |
| 2021 | 19.2% | +10.1% |
| 2022 | 18.4% | -4.0% |
| 2023 | 18.0% | -2.3% |
| 2024 | 18.2% | +1.3% |
| 2025 | 18.8% | +3.1% |
| 2026 | 18.5% | -1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.7% | 5.3% | 10.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.0% | 10.9% | 18.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.4% | 17.4% | 19.2% | 7 |
Countries ranked near Northern Africa and Western Asia
- 34 Burundi 39.6% compare
- 35 Republic of Moldova 39.6% compare
- 35 Moldova 39.6% compare
- 37 Armenia 39.2% compare
- 38 Uzbekistan 39.2% compare
- 39 North Macedonia 39.2% compare
- 40 Mozambique 38.0% compare
More gender data for Northern Africa and Western Asia
- Number of seats held by women in national parliaments 768 (2026)
- Proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia 30.2% (2023)
- Proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia, pregnant 34.6% (2023)
- Proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia, non-pregnant 30.0% (2023)
- Proportion of women in managerial positions - 13th ICLS 19.9% (2025)
- Adjusted gender parity index for participation rate in organized 1.02 (2024)
- 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) 0.2% (2026)
- Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have 64.7% (2025)
- Proportion of elected seats held by women in deliberative bodies of 19.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Northern Africa and Western Asia?
- Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Northern Africa and Western Asia was 18.5% 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 Northern Africa and Western Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 19.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments recorded in Northern Africa and Western Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.3% in 2000.
- How does Northern Africa and Western Asia rank for proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments?
- Northern Africa and Western Asia ranks 37th out of 42 groups with data for 2026.
- Is proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments rising or falling in Northern Africa and Western Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Northern Africa and Western 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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