Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Proportion of women in ministerial level positions was 23.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Sub-Saharan Africa, 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 Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 23.1%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.2% on the previous year and up 17.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 24.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 15.8%, in 2005.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 13th 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 Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 15.8% | — |
| 2008 | 18.4% | +16.1% |
| 2010 | 19.1% | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 20.1% | +4.9% |
| 2014 | 20.2% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 19.7% | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 19.4% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 23.2% | +19.7% |
| 2019 | 22.7% | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 24.5% | +7.6% |
| 2022 | 23.9% | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 23.2% | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 23.6% | +1.6% |
| 2025 | 23.1% | -2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.1% | 15.8% | 18.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 20.6% | 19.1% | 23.2% | 7 |
| 2020s | 23.7% | 23.1% | 24.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More gender data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 552,879 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.42 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 875,918 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 875,918 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 2.84 % change on previous year (2030)
- Inactivity rate (ILO modelled estimates) 29.77 (2027)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), per capita 0.0004 units per person (2025)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), per capita 0.0006 units per person (2025)
- Labor force, female 247.09 million (2025)
- Labor force, female, per capita 0.187 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Sub-Saharan Africa was 23.1% 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?
- The highest recorded value was 24.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest proportion of women in ministerial level positions recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.8% in 2005.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for proportion of women in ministerial level positions?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 13th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of women in ministerial level positions rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa 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.