Women Hold Only 27.5% of Global Parliamentary Seats

According to a new report released by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) titled "Women in Parliament 2025," women hold only 27.5% of parliamentary seats worldwide as of 2026. This figure represents a modest increase of 0.3%, indicating the slowest growth in women's parliamentary representation in nearly a decade.

The report also highlights a concerning decline in women's leadership positions within parliament, with women securing only 12.75% of newly appointed speakership roles. The average representation of women in chambers with legislative quotas is 31%, compared to 23% in parliaments without such measures.

Additionally, the report raises alarms about the growing political violence and intimidation targeted at lawmakers, particularly women, which further impedes progress in women's political representation. This situation reflects broader global inequities between men and women in political spheres.