Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in South Asia
South Asia: Proportion of women in ministerial level positions was 11.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in South Asia, 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
South Asia recorded 11.4% for proportion of women in ministerial level positions in 2025.
The figure is up 14.7% on the previous year and down 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of women in ministerial level positions in South Asia peaked at 15.3% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 7.1%, in 2014.
South Asia ranks 43rd of 47 groups on this measure, 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 South Asia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 7.5% | — |
| 2008 | 10.8% | +43.1% |
| 2010 | 8.2% | -23.5% |
| 2012 | 12.6% | +53.1% |
| 2014 | 7.1% | -43.5% |
| 2015 | 12.0% | +68.6% |
| 2016 | 8.8% | -27.1% |
| 2018 | 15.3% | +75.1% |
| 2019 | 13.1% | -14.5% |
| 2020 | 11.8% | -9.9% |
| 2022 | 11.7% | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 10.2% | -12.4% |
| 2024 | 9.9% | -3.1% |
| 2025 | 11.4% | +14.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.2% | 7.5% | 10.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 11.0% | 7.1% | 15.3% | 7 |
| 2020s | 11.0% | 9.9% | 11.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 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 of America 33.3% compare
More gender data for South Asia
- Labor force, female 206.42 million (2025)
- Labor force, female, per capita 0.122 units per person (2025)
- Labor force, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Labor force, female, annual growth rate 1.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Labor force, female, per square kilometre 58.22 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (% ages 15-24) 105.4% (2025)
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, female 11.07 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, male 11.09 years (2019)
- Women of reproductive age 512.73 million (2023)
- Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) 47.2% (2016)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of women in ministerial level positions in South Asia?
- Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in South Asia was 11.4% 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 15.3% in 2018.
- What is the lowest proportion of women in ministerial level positions recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.1% in 2014.
- How does South Asia rank for proportion of women in ministerial level positions?
- South Asia ranks 43rd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of women in ministerial level positions rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Asia 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.