How Large is the Gender Gap in Global Politics?

How Large is the Gender Gap in Global Politics?

New UN data shows women hold just 27.5% of parliamentary seats and only 1 in 7 countries is led by a woman
Maryam Tahmasebi – Traces&Dreams Journalist
March 17, 2026

When considering ways to reduce the gender gap, we often assume politicians should take the lead and that politics is the primary field for pursuing justice. This is true to some extent. However, statistics show that even in the political world, the proportion of women is significantly lower than that of men and remains far below where it should be.

A new map by UN Women and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), published in March 2026, shows that political power is still mostly under the control of men, and the pace of women’s progress in political participation has not only slowed down but in some cases has even regressed.

Let us take a look at the statistics published by the United Nations from 2025 to the beginning of 2026.

During this period, women around the world held only 22.4 percent of cabinet positions and 27.5 percent of parliamentary seats, and the majority of high-level decision-making remains male-dominated.

For example, women’s presence in cabinets is one area that has experienced regression. In 2024, this share was 23.3 percent, which decreased to 22.4 percent in 2025. Across the world, there are only 14 countries where women have equal or greater representation than men in cabinets. Namibia ranks first with 64.3 percent, followed by Finland (61.1 percent), Nicaragua (60 percent), Colombia (55.6 percent), Australia (54.5 percent), and Sweden (52.2 percent). Canada, Ecuador, Germany, Guatemala, Iceland, Seychelles, Spain, and the United Kingdom have also reached the 50 percent threshold, placing them among the global frontrunners.

However, in countries such as Yemen, Turkmenistan, Saudi Arabia, Hungary, and Azerbaijan, women’s share in government is zero. In other words, there is not a single woman in their cabinets.

Regarding legislative institutions, the situation is not particularly encouraging either, even though women’s representation in parliaments has increased by 0.3 percent compared to last year, reaching 27.5 percent. Rwanda, Cuba, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Mexico, Andorra, and the United Arab Emirates stand at the top with at least 50 percent representation. At the bottom of this list, we see Yemen, Tuvalu, and Oman, with zero percent.

From a regional perspective, the Americas have the highest level of parliamentary equality, followed by Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Pacific, while the Middle East and North Africa rank last.

Another point is that in 2026, only 28 countries in the world have a woman serving as head of state or government. This means that only 1 out of every 7 countries is led by a woman. This statistic should also be viewed from another angle: 101 countries throughout their entire political history have never had a woman in the highest executive position.

However, despite parity in some regions, analyzing the types of responsibilities assigned to women reveals another layer of systemic inequality and persistent gender stereotypes. Women lead 90 percent of ministries related to “gender equality” and 73 percent of those dealing with “family and children.” In contrast, the strategic domains of power controlling the pulse of global security and the economy are still treated as restricted zones. Only 12 percent of ministries of defense, as well as energy and natural resources, are led by women. This unequal distribution means that critical decisions about war, peace, and economic infrastructure are made without the effective participation of half of the world’s population and their experiences.

In addition to these structural barriers, the political environment for women has become highly unsafe. Seventy-six percent of women members of parliament indicated encountering intimidation and violence in surveys. These pressures, which exist both online and offline, work as a deterrent tool to discourage women from running for office and engaging in political activities.

In this regard, Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, said:
“At a time of growing global instability, escalating conflicts, and a visible backlash against women’s rights, shutting women out of political leadership weakens societies’ ability to respond to the challenges they face. Women bring perspectives and experience that are essential for making better decisions, preventing conflict, and building lasting peace. When women are fully involved in political leadership, countries are more stable, policies work better for people, and societies are better prepared to face the crises shaping our world today.”

These days, the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) is taking place, and we hope that by adopting new global standards, we will gradually witness a narrowing of these gaps.