Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan: Proportion of women in ministerial level positions was 13.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan stood at 13.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 47.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan peaked at 14.0% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 7.3%, in 2010.
That places Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 40th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 7.7% | — |
| 2008 | 7.6% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 7.3% | -4.2% |
| 2012 | 7.7% | +5.8% |
| 2014 | 8.0% | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 9.2% | +14.0% |
| 2016 | 10.0% | +9.0% |
| 2018 | 11.5% | +14.6% |
| 2019 | 12.3% | +7.2% |
| 2020 | 13.4% | +8.8% |
| 2022 | 13.5% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 14.0% | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 13.4% | -4.4% |
| 2025 | 13.5% | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.7% | 7.6% | 7.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 9.4% | 7.3% | 12.3% | 7 |
| 2020s | 13.5% | 13.4% | 14.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- 37 Liberia 35.3% compare
- 37 Panama 35.3% compare
- 39 New Zealand 35.0% compare
- 40 Armenia 33.3% compare
- 40 Cyprus 33.3% compare
- 40 Denmark 33.3% compare
- 40 Honduras 33.3% compare
- 40 Luxembourg 33.3% compare
- 40 Madagascar 33.3% compare
- 40 Sierra Leone 33.3% compare
- 40 Uganda 33.3% compare
- 40 United States 33.3% compare
More gender data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- Labor force, female 53.25 million (2025)
- Labor force, female, per capita 0.0643 units per person (2025)
- Labor force, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Labor force, female, annual growth rate 2.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Labor force, female, per square kilometre 4.05 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (% ages 15-24) 170.9% (2025)
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, female 13.02 years (2018)
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, male 13.36 years (2018)
- Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) 13.1% (2016)
- Own-account workers, male (% of male employment) 21.3% (2016)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan →
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan was 13.5% 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 14.0% in 2023.
- What is the lowest proportion of women in ministerial level positions recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.3% in 2010.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan rank for proportion of women in ministerial level positions?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 40th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of women in ministerial level positions rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 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.