Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments (%) … number in Northern Africa and Western Asia
Northern Africa and Western Asia: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments (%) … number 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. Measured in %.
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 36th out of 41 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 (%) … number in Northern Africa and Western Asia, year by year
| Year | % | 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 Switzerland 39.7% compare
- 35 Burundi 39.6% compare
- 36 Republic of Moldova 39.6% compare
- 36 Moldova 39.6% compare
- 38 Armenia 39.2% compare
- 39 Uzbekistan 39.2% 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 ratio (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 36th out of 41 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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