Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Proportion of women in ministerial level positions was 22.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 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
The most recent figure for proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) is 22.7%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 3.2% on the previous year and up 15.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) peaked at 24.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 15.9%, in 2005.
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 15th of 47 groups on this measure, 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 Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 15.9% | — |
| 2008 | 18.4% | +15.7% |
| 2010 | 19.1% | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 20.1% | +4.8% |
| 2014 | 20.2% | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 19.6% | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 19.3% | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 23.0% | +19.3% |
| 2019 | 22.5% | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 24.4% | +8.1% |
| 2022 | 23.8% | -2.4% |
| 2023 | 23.1% | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 23.4% | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 22.7% | -3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.1% | 15.9% | 18.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 20.5% | 19.1% | 23.0% | 7 |
| 2020s | 23.5% | 22.7% | 24.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
More gender data for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- Labor force, female 247.09 million (2025)
- Labor force, female, per capita 0.187 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 2.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Labor force, female, per square kilometre 9.83 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-49, female 1.12 per 1,000 uninfected female population ages 15-49 (2024)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-49, male 0.5884 per 1,000 uninfected male population ages 15-49 (2024)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-24, female 1.38 per 1,000 uninfected female population ages 15-24 (2024)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-24, male 0.4268 per 1,000 uninfected male population ages 15-24 (2024)
- Ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (% ages 15-24) 127.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) was 22.7% 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 Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 24.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest proportion of women in ministerial level positions recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.9% in 2005.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank for proportion of women in ministerial level positions?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 15th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of women in ministerial level positions rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 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.