According to a study by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), by January 1, 2026, women will occupy 27.5% of seats in world parliaments — an increase of 0.3% compared to the previous year, when this figure was 27.2%.
The report is based on data from 49 countries, where the composition of 62 parliamentary chambers was updated in 2025.
The most notable changes were recorded in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (+12.3 points) and in the upper house of the parliament of Saint Lucia (+9.1 points).
Despite the overall slow progress at the global level, some countries have achieved record figures. For instance, in Australia, after the 2025 elections, women occupied 46% of seats in parliament — a historic high for the country. In the Czech Republic, the proportion of women in the lower house increased from 25% to one third, while in Ecuador, this figure reached a record 45% in the National Assembly.
Japan also marked a historic event: for the first time in the country, a woman was elected as Prime Minister, and after the elections in July, the proportion of women in the upper house reached 29.4% — a record level for Japan.
Decrease in the Number of Women Speakers
At the same time, there is a decrease in the proportion of women in the positions of parliamentary speakers, which now stands at 19.9% (54 speakers), compared to 23.7% a year earlier.Of the 75 new speakers elected or appointed in 2025, only 12 were women.
Regional Differences
The highest level of female representation is observed in the Americas, where in 2025, women made up 36.1% of deputies in 20 parliamentary chambers across 13 countries in the region. Overall, by the beginning of 2026, this figure stands at 35.6% in the parliaments of the Americas.Four of the seven countries in the world where gender parity has been achieved or where women outnumber men in parliament are also located in this region: Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Mexico. Similar figures have been recorded in Rwanda, Andorra, and the UAE.
In three countries, such as Oman, Tuvalu, and Yemen, there are no women deputies in the lower houses or unicameral parliaments.
The Importance of Quotas
The report emphasizes that quotas remain one of the most effective tools for increasing women's representation. In 2025, in parliaments where legislative or voluntary quotas are in place, women held an average of 30.9% of seats, while in parliaments without quotas, this figure was 23.3%.Issues of Violence and Pressure
One of the serious barriers to women's participation in politics is the violence and pressure faced by women politicians. An IPU study found that 76% of women parliamentarians in the Asia-Pacific region experienced psychological violence.Women deputies are more likely to become victims of threats and intimidation both online and in real life. Such experiences were reported by 76% of surveyed women and 68% of men.
Some countries are already taking measures against this phenomenon. For example, the Philippine election commission intervened after derogatory remarks made by male candidates about women politicians, and the Colombian parliament passed a law aimed at preventing violence against women in politics and punishing such actions.
The Inter-Parliamentary Union, founded in 1889, is a global organization uniting 183 national parliaments and 15 regional parliamentary organizations. Its goal is to promote the development of democracy and protect the rights of parliamentarians worldwide.
Photo on the main page: O. Zvachek.
