Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in European Union
European Union: Proportion of women in ministerial level positions was 31.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in European Union, 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
European Union recorded 31.5% for proportion of women in ministerial level positions in 2025.
That represents a change of up 2.0% on the previous year and up 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of women in ministerial level positions in European Union peaked at 33.6% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 21.9%, in 2005.
European Union ranks 5th of 47 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in European Union, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 21.9% | — |
| 2008 | 26.0% | +18.7% |
| 2010 | 26.4% | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 25.0% | -5.6% |
| 2014 | 28.4% | +13.7% |
| 2015 | 28.9% | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 28.7% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 31.8% | +10.6% |
| 2019 | 31.5% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 32.3% | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 31.9% | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 33.6% | +5.3% |
| 2024 | 30.9% | -8.3% |
| 2025 | 31.5% | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 24.0% | 21.9% | 26.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 28.7% | 25.0% | 31.8% | 7 |
| 2020s | 32.0% | 30.9% | 33.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near European Union
- 2 Finland 61.1% compare
- 3 Nicaragua 60.0% compare
- 4 Colombia 55.6% compare
- 5 Australia 54.5% compare
- 6 Sweden 52.2% compare
- 7 Canada 50.0% compare
- 7 Ecuador 50.0% compare
- 7 Germany 50.0% compare
- 7 Guatemala 50.0% compare
- 7 Iceland 50.0% compare
- 7 Seychelles 50.0% compare
- 7 Spain 50.0% compare
- 7 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 50.0% compare
More gender data for European Union
- Labor force, female 102.81 million (2025)
- Labor force, female, per capita 0.2279 units per person (2025)
- Labor force, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Labor force, female, annual growth rate -0.0884 % change on previous year (2025)
- Labor force, female, per square kilometre 25.72 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-49, female 0.0972 per 1,000 uninfected female population ages 15-49 (2023)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-49, male 0.1636 per 1,000 uninfected male population ages 15-49 (2023)
- Ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (% ages 15-24) 98.3% (2025)
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, female 17.2 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, male 16.43 years (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of women in ministerial level positions in European Union?
- Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in European Union was 31.5% 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 European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 33.6% in 2023.
- What is the lowest proportion of women in ministerial level positions recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.9% in 2005.
- How does European Union rank for proportion of women in ministerial level positions?
- European Union ranks 5th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of women in ministerial level positions rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this European Union 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.