Share of women in parliament in Malaysia
Malaysia: Share of women in parliament was 13.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
13.5%
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
151st
of 174 countries
All-time high
14.9%
in 2020
All-time low
0.0%
in 1949
Years of data
74
1949–2025
Share of women in parliament in Malaysia, 1949–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of women in parliament in Malaysia is 13.5%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 30.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women in parliament in Malaysia peaked at 14.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1949.
That places Malaysia 151st out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of women in parliament in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 | 0.0% | — |
| 1950 | 0.0% | — |
| 1951 | 0.0% | — |
| 1952 | 0.0% | — |
| 1953 | 0.0% | — |
| 1954 | 0.0% | — |
| 1955 | 0.0% | — |
| 1956 | 0.0% | — |
| 1957 | 0.0% | — |
| 1958 | 0.0% | — |
| 1959 | 2.9% | — |
| 1960 | 2.9% | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 2.9% | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 2.9% | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 2.9% | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 1.9% | -34.5% |
| 1965 | 1.9% | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 1.9% | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 1.9% | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 1.9% | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 2.1% | +10.5% |
| 1973 | 2.1% | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 3.2% | +52.4% |
| 1975 | 3.2% | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 3.2% | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 3.2% | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 4.5% | +40.6% |
| 1979 | 4.5% | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 4.5% | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 4.5% | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 5.2% | +15.6% |
| 1983 | 5.2% | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 5.2% | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 5.2% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 5.1% | -1.9% |
| 1987 | 5.1% | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 5.1% | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 5.1% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 6.1% | +19.6% |
| 1991 | 6.1% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 6.1% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 6.1% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 6.1% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 7.8% | +27.9% |
| 1996 | 7.8% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 7.8% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 7.8% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 7.2% | -7.1% |
| 2000 | 7.2% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 7.2% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 7.2% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 7.2% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 9.1% | +25.9% |
| 2005 | 9.1% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 9.1% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 10.0% | +9.5% |
| 2008 | 10.8% | +8.1% |
| 2009 | 10.8% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 9.9% | -8.3% |
| 2011 | 10.8% | +9.1% |
| 2012 | 10.8% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 10.4% | -4.2% |
| 2014 | 10.4% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 10.4% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 10.4% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 10.4% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 13.9% | +34.2% |
| 2019 | 14.4% | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 14.9% | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 14.9% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 13.5% | -9.1% |
| 2023 | 13.5% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 13.5% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 13.5% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1950s | 0.3% | 0.0% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.3% | 1.9% | 2.9% | 9 |
| 1970s | 3.2% | 2.1% | 4.5% | 8 |
| 1980s | 5.0% | 4.5% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.9% | 6.1% | 7.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.8% | 7.2% | 10.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.2% | 9.9% | 14.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.0% | 13.5% | 14.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 148 India 13.8% compare
- 149 Guinea-Bissau 13.7% compare
- 150 Cambodia 13.6% compare
- 152 Cote d'Ivoire 13.4% compare
- 153 Democratic Republic of Congo 12.8% compare
- 154 Central African Republic 11.4% compare
More gender data for Malaysia
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 7,206 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -1.39 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 214,187 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 227,793 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 214,543 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 228,149 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 213,108 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 226,616 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 211,196 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 224,575 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women in parliament in Malaysia?
- Share of women in parliament in Malaysia was 13.5% in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of women in parliament recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 14.9% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of women in parliament recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1949.
- How does Malaysia rank for share of women in parliament?
- Malaysia ranks 151st out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of women in parliament rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.
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About this data
Percentage of women in the lower or single chamber of the legislature.