Women in European parliaments

Europe needs more women in national parliaments, but progress is slow

In Europe’s lower-house parliaments, only 31.6 per cent of members are women

Women in European parliaments (from left to right): Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy; Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament; Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark

April 2025: “Countries that have more women in political offices typically pass more laws that increase women’s economic rights and opportunities, which can lead to greater female labour force participation and economic growth,” says a recent report jointly produced by the World Bank and the Oliver Wyman Forum. The report’s authors deplore that in recent national elections, women did not make broad-based gains and ask whether these results are just a pause or possibly a setback.

“Greater representation in public life can play a critical role in promoting equal opportunity for women and in providing a much-needed stimulus to world economic growth.” Separate research by the World Bank estimates that full female workforce participation could increase global GDP by nearly 20 per cent and help reduce poverty.

Across Europe, the average percentage of women in national parliaments is only 31.6 per cent. In the parliaments of Nordic countries, women approach parity with men, while in Central and Eastern Europe just above a quarter of members of parliament are women. The parliaments of Iceland, Finland, and Sweden have the highest quotas for women, while Bosnia-Herzegovina, Russia, Hungary, and Cyprus have the lowest quotas.

Percentage of female parliamentarians across Europe

Regional averages

All Europe 32%

Nordic countries 45%

Western Europe 36%

Southern Europe 29%

Central & Eastern Europe 27%

European Parliament 39%

Percentage of women in Europe’s national parliaments

(In brackets, the dates of the most recent parliamentary elections)

Above 45 per cent

Iceland 46% (11/2024); Finland 46% (04/2023); Sweden 45% (09/2022)

Above 40 per cent

Norway 44% (09/2021); Spain 44% (07/2023); Denmark 44% (11/2022); Belgium 41% (06/2024); UK 41% (07/2024); Moldova 40% (07/2021)

Above 35 per cent

Netherlands 39% (11/2023); North Macedonia 39% (05/2024); Switzerland 39% (10/2023); Serbia 37% (12/2023); Slovenia 36% (04/2022); Austria 36% (09/2024); Albania 36% (04/2021); France 36% (06/2024); Portugal 35% (03/2024); Luxembourg 35% (10/2023);

Above 30 per cent

Belarus 34% (02/2024); Croatia 33%; Italy 33% (09/2022); Germany 32% (02/2025); Liechtenstein 32% (02/2025); Poland 31% (10/2023); Latvia 31% (10/2022);

Above 25 per cent

Malta 29% (03/2022); Estonia 29% (03/2023); Lithuania 28% (10/2024); Montenegro 27% (06/2023); Czech Republic 26% (10/2021); Ireland 25% (11/2024)

Above 20 per cent

Greece 23% (06/2023); Slovakia 23% (09/2023); Romania 22% (12/2024); Georgia 22% (10/2024); Bulgaria 21% (10/2024); Ukraine 21% (07/2019)

Below 20 per cent

Bosnia-Herzegovina 19% (10/2022); Russia 16% (02/2021); Hungary 15% (04/2022); Cyprus 14% (05/2021)

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Notes

The research was carried out in April 2025, using European and international sources. Only lower-house parliaments were examined.

Sources

Inter-Parliamentary Union; European Parliament; German statistical office (Statistisches Bundesamt); Oliver Wyman Forum; World Bank’s Women; Business and the Law project; PwC

Further reading Violence against female politicians | European capital cities with women mayors | Europe lacks women mayors | World Mayor 2025 |

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