Women in Parliament 2011: The year in perspective

2011 has been hailed as a year of democratic transformation: a year in which calls for stronger democratic institutions were made loud and clear, and in which women played a vital part. Women not only entered parliaments in increasing numbers, but stronger efforts were made to ensure that they took their rightful place within these democratic institutions. Also in 2011, a new country was born – South Sudan – and its transitional constituent assembly was comprised of 26.5% of women; a healthy start for this newcomer to democracy.

 

By the end of 2011, thirty single or lower house chambers, up from 25 in 2010, had 30% or more women in Parliament, with seven surpassing 40% and two 50%. New to the list in 2011, further to general elections, were Nicaragua, the Seychelles and Slovenia. In addition, 19 upper houses (up from 17 in 2010) surpassed the 30% mark by the end of 2011, five of which now record more than 40% women. These historically high levels of women’s representation are in parliaments across the globe: 20 chambers in Europe (including all five of the unicameral parliaments of the Nordic countries); 13 chambers in Sub-Saharan Africa; 13 chambers in the Americas; and four chambers in the Asia-Pacific region. The one region where women still have not reached this high level of political participation remains the Arab region. At the other end of the spectrum, women represent 10% or less of members in 61 chambers, including 13 upper houses. Little progress was made with respect to the number of chambers with no women, which decreased during 2011 to seven, down from 10 the previous year.

 

Find comparative data by country here.