Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Northern Europe
Northern Europe: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments was 39.6% in 2026. ▲ Rising
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Northern Europe, 2000–2026
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
Northern Europe recorded 39.6% for proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in 2026. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 21.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Northern Europe peaked at 39.6% in 2026 and was at its lowest, 26.3%, in 2002.
That places Northern Europe 3rd out of 42 groups 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 Northern Europe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 27.0% | — |
| 2001 | 26.5% | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 26.3% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 27.1% | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 27.1% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 28.0% | +3.5% |
| 2006 | 28.6% | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 29.0% | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 29.2% | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 28.9% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 29.6% | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 30.0% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 30.4% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 30.8% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 30.9% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 30.4% | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 32.5% | +6.8% |
| 2017 | 33.3% | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 33.8% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 35.1% | +3.9% |
| 2020 | 36.4% | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 36.9% | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 37.0% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 37.8% | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 38.2% | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 39.4% | +3.1% |
| 2026 | 39.6% | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 27.8% | 26.3% | 29.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.7% | 29.6% | 35.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.9% | 36.4% | 39.6% | 7 |
Countries ranked near Northern Europe
More gender data for Northern Europe
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 17,177 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -1.07 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 94,266 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 94,266 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.5853 % change on previous year (2030)
- Inactivity rate (ILO modelled estimates) 38.15 (2027)
- SDG indicator 5.5.2: Proportion of women in managerial positions 40.1 (2025)
- Number of seats held by women in national parliaments 841 (2026)
- Proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia 14.8% (2023)
- Proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia, pregnant 15.3% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Northern Europe?
- Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments in Northern Europe was 39.6% 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 Europe?
- The highest recorded value was 39.6% in 2026.
- What is the lowest proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments recorded in Northern Europe?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.3% in 2002.
- How does Northern Europe rank for proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments?
- Northern Europe ranks 3rd out of 42 groups with data for 2026.
- Is proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments rising or falling in Northern Europe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Northern Europe 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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