Share of women in parliament in Benin
Benin: Share of women in parliament was 26.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
26.6%
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
87th
of 174 countries
All-time high
26.6%
in 2023
All-time low
0.0%
in 1952
Years of data
65
1952–2025
Share of women in parliament in Benin, 1952–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of women in parliament in Benin is 26.6%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 267.9% 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, 0.0%, in 1952.
Benin ranks 87th of 174 countries on this measure, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | 0.0% | — |
| 1953 | 0.0% | — |
| 1954 | 0.0% | — |
| 1955 | 0.0% | — |
| 1956 | 0.0% | — |
| 1957 | 0.0% | — |
| 1958 | 0.0% | — |
| 1959 | 0.0% | — |
| 1960 | 0.0% | — |
| 1961 | 0.0% | — |
| 1962 | 0.0% | — |
| 1963 | 0.0% | — |
| 1964 | 0.0% | — |
| 1973 | 0.0% | — |
| 1974 | 0.0% | — |
| 1975 | 0.0% | — |
| 1976 | 0.0% | — |
| 1977 | 0.0% | — |
| 1978 | 0.0% | — |
| 1979 | 8.3% | — |
| 1980 | 8.3% | -0.4% |
| 1981 | 8.3% | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 8.3% | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 8.3% | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 4.1% | -50.8% |
| 1985 | 4.1% | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 4.1% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 4.1% | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 4.1% | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 2.9% | -29.0% |
| 1991 | 6.2% | +114.6% |
| 1992 | 6.3% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 6.3% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 6.3% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 6.0% | -4.4% |
| 1996 | 7.2% | +19.5% |
| 1997 | 7.2% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 7.2% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 6.0% | -16.4% |
| 2000 | 6.0% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 6.0% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 6.0% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 7.2% | +20.1% |
| 2004 | 7.2% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 7.2% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 7.2% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 8.4% | +16.6% |
| 2008 | 8.4% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 8.4% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 10.8% | +28.6% |
| 2011 | 9.6% | -11.1% |
| 2012 | 9.6% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 9.6% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 8.4% | -12.6% |
| 2015 | 7.2% | -14.2% |
| 2016 | 7.2% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 7.2% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 7.2% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 7.2% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 8.4% | +16.6% |
| 2021 | 8.4% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 7.4% | -12.2% |
| 2023 | 26.6% | +259.6% |
| 2024 | 26.6% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 26.6% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 8 |
| 1960s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5 |
| 1970s | 1.2% | 0.0% | 8.3% | 7 |
| 1980s | 5.7% | 2.9% | 8.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.5% | 6.0% | 7.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.2% | 6.0% | 8.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.4% | 7.2% | 10.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.3% | 7.4% | 26.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Benin
- 84 Montenegro 27.2% compare
- 85 Afghanistan 27.0% compare
- 86 Barbados 26.7% compare
- 88 China 26.5% compare
- 88 Seychelles 26.5% compare
- 90 Djibouti 26.2% compare
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 V-Dem (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 0.0% in 1952.
- How does Benin rank for share of women in parliament?
- Benin ranks 87th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of women in parliament rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 267.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of women in parliament. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Percentage of women in the lower or single chamber of the legislature.