Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Proportion of women in ministerial level positions was 20.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Africa Western and Central, 2005–2025
Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Women in Politics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Africa Western and Central stood at 20.2%.
The figure is down 2.4% on the previous year and up 14.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Africa Western and Central peaked at 20.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 15.3%, in 2005.
That places Africa Western and Central 26th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 15.3% | — |
| 2008 | 17.2% | +12.6% |
| 2010 | 16.7% | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 18.3% | +9.3% |
| 2014 | 16.9% | -7.9% |
| 2015 | 17.7% | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 17.6% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 18.5% | +5.1% |
| 2019 | 18.9% | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 19.5% | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 18.9% | -3.2% |
| 2023 | 20.1% | +6.1% |
| 2024 | 20.7% | +3.2% |
| 2025 | 20.2% | -2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 16.2% | 15.3% | 17.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 17.8% | 16.7% | 18.9% | 7 |
| 2020s | 19.9% | 18.9% | 20.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
- 23 Liechtenstein 40.0% compare
- 23 Monaco 40.0% compare
- 23 Sao Tome and Principe 40.0% compare
- 26 Austria 38.5% compare
- 26 Dominica 38.5% compare
- 28 El Salvador 37.5% compare
- 28 Micronesia, Federated States of 37.5% compare
- 28 Portugal 37.5% compare
More gender data for Africa Western and Central
- Labor force, female 105.69 million (2025)
- Labor force, female, per capita 0.1984 units per person (2025)
- Labor force, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Labor force, female, annual growth rate 2.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- Labor force, female, per square kilometre 11.01 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-49, male 0.2528 per 1,000 uninfected male population ages 15-49 (2024)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-49, female 0.4972 per 1,000 uninfected female population ages 15-49 (2024)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-24, female 0.5102 per 1,000 uninfected female population ages 15-24 (2024)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-24, male 0.1669 per 1,000 uninfected male population ages 15-24 (2024)
- Ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (% ages 15-24) 123.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Africa Western and Central?
- Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Africa Western and Central was 20.2% in 2025, according to Inter-Parliamentary Union. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Women in Politics.
- What is the highest proportion of women in ministerial level positions recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 20.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest proportion of women in ministerial level positions recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.3% in 2005.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for proportion of women in ministerial level positions?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 26th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of women in ministerial level positions rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from Inter-Parliamentary Union. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Women in Politics, published as part of Proportion of women in ministerial level positions (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Women in ministerial level positions is the proportion of women in ministerial or equivalent positions (including deputy prime ministers) in the government. Prime Ministers/Heads of Government are included when they hold ministerial portfolios. Vice-Presidents and heads of governmental or public agencies are excluded.