According to data from a new report by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), as of January 1, 2026, women held 27.5% of parliamentary seats, which is slightly higher than the 27.2% figure from the previous year. The rate of growth in representation remains the slowest since 2017.
The report is based on an analysis of 49 countries, where the composition of parliament was updated in 62 chambers in 2025.
Kyrgyzstan had the most significant increase in the number of women in parliament in 2025, where their share rose by 12.9%. Second place goes to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines with an increase of 12.3%, and third place to the upper house of parliament in Saint Lucia (+9.1%).
Despite the overall slow growth, some countries are demonstrating record results. In Australia, after the 2025 elections, women occupied 46% of seats in parliament—the highest figure in history. In the Czech Republic, the share of women in the lower house increased from 25% to one-third, while in Ecuador, women made up a record 45% in the National Assembly.
This year was also significant for Japan: for the first time, a woman held the position of Prime Minister. After the elections in July, the share of women in the upper house of parliament reached 29.4%, a record for the country.
At the same time, there is a global decline in the share of women in the positions of parliamentary speakers, which stands at 19.9% (54 speakers), compared to 23.7% the previous year. Among the 75 new speakers elected or appointed in 2025, only 12 are women.
The highest level of women's representation is observed in the Americas, where as of early 2026, women hold 35.6% of parliamentary seats.
This region is home to four of the seven countries that have achieved gender parity or where women in parliament outnumber men: Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Mexico. Similar figures are noted in Rwanda, Andorra, and the United Arab Emirates.
The lowest representation of women remains in the countries of the Middle East and North Africa, where they occupy only 16.2% of parliamentary seats.
In three countries—Oman, Tuvalu, and Yemen—there are no women representatives in the lower houses of parliament or in unicameral parliaments. The report emphasizes that violence and pressure remain serious obstacles for women politicians. An IPU study showed that 76% of women parliamentarians in Asia-Pacific countries have experienced psychological violence. Women representatives are more frequently victims of threats and intimidation, both online and in real life—this was reported by 76% of surveyed women and 68% of men.
Experts warn that such threats can hinder women's participation in politics and slow progress toward achieving gender equality in government.
- The Inter-Parliamentary Union is a global organization that brings together national parliaments, founded in 1889. It currently includes 183 national parliaments and 15 regional parliamentary organizations that work to promote democracy and protect the rights of parliamentarians worldwide.
