Share of women in parliament in Benin
Benin: Share of women in parliament was 26.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of women in parliament in Benin, 1997–2025
Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) monthly ranking of women in national parliaments, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of women in parliament in Benin stood at 26.6%. That is the highest value across all 29 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 268.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women in parliament in Benin peaked at 26.6% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 6.0%, in 1999.
That places Benin 93rd out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of women in parliament in Benin, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 7.2% | — |
| 1998 | 7.2% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 6.0% | -16.7% |
| 2000 | 6.0% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 6.0% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 6.0% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 6.0% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 7.2% | +20.0% |
| 2005 | 7.2% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 7.2% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 10.8% | +50.0% |
| 2008 | 10.8% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 10.8% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 10.8% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 8.4% | -22.2% |
| 2012 | 8.4% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 8.4% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 8.4% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 7.2% | -14.3% |
| 2016 | 7.2% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 7.2% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 7.2% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 7.2% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 7.2% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 8.4% | +16.7% |
| 2022 | 7.4% | -12.2% |
| 2023 | 26.6% | +259.2% |
| 2024 | 26.6% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 26.6% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.8% | 6.0% | 7.2% | 3 |
| 2000s | 7.8% | 6.0% | 10.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.1% | 7.2% | 10.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.1% | 7.2% | 26.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More gender data for Benin
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 6,548 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.19 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 229,200 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 237,041 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 223,456 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 230,273 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 219,192 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 225,605 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 214,836 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 220,927 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women in parliament in Benin?
- Share of women in parliament in Benin was 26.6% in 2025, according to Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) monthly ranking of women in national parliaments, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of women in parliament recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 26.6% in 2023.
- What is the lowest share of women in parliament recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.0% in 1999.
- How does Benin rank for share of women in parliament?
- Benin ranks 93rd out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of women in parliament rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 268.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) monthly ranking of women in national parliaments, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of women in parliament. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of seats in lower or single chamber of the legislature held by women.