2026-03-29 · percent of parliamentary seats
Nordic parliaments lead on women’s representation
Quota and party policies show up in seat shares.
Who holds parliamentary seats shapes which laws pass and whose priorities they serve. In 2026, Nordic parliaments average 45% women — well ahead of Asia & Pacific at 28.6%, Africa at 15.4%, and the Americas at 11%. Quota and party policies show up in the seat shares: where they exist, representation climbs; where they don't, women stay underrepresented in the rooms where decisions get made.
1 cell = 0.1 percent of parliamentary seats (0.1% of global parliamentary seats) · 1,000 cells
Context
The grid uses the share of parliamentary seats held by women in 2026, from Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) data compiled by Our World in Data.
Our World in Data's research notes that women can now vote and sit in parliament almost everywhere, yet remain underrepresented in politics — especially in the highest offices.
The Nordic figure is an average across Nordic countries, and the Americas band excludes this edition's spotlight country, so its 11% covers the rest of the region.
Share of parliamentary seats held by women (IPU via OWID).
Share and export
Credit this grid as Inagrid — https://inagrid.com/e/2026-03-29-pol-women-mp-nordic