33.4% of EU Parliamentarians are Women
- As of 2024, women's representation in politics across the European Union presents a mixed picture.
- In 2024, women held 33.4% of the seats in national parliaments across the EU.
- Several EU countries have made meaningful strides in increasing female representation in their national parliaments.
Women in Politics: analyzing EU Depiction in 2024
Table of Contents
- Women in Politics: analyzing EU Depiction in 2024
- Women in EU Politics: Key Insights for 2024
- how does women’s representation in EU politics look in 2024?
- What percentage of seats in national parliaments across the EU are held by women?
- Which EU countries have shown the most significant increases in female parliament representation between 2014 and 2024?
- What is the percentage of women in national governments across the EU in 2024?
- Which EU country has the highest female representation in its national government?
- Which other EU countries have high percentages of women in their national governments?
- Which EU countries have the lowest representation of women in their national governments?
- Which EU countries experienced the most significant increases in the share of women in national government between 2014 and 2024?
- What is the trend of women’s representation in the European Parliament?
- Key Statistics on Women in EU Politics 2024
- what is the overall conclusion regarding women in EU politics in 2024?
As of 2024, women’s representation in politics across the European Union presents a mixed picture. while progress has been made in some areas, challenges remain in achieving full gender equality in political leadership.
Representation in National Parliaments
In 2024, women held 33.4% of the seats in national parliaments across the EU. This figure represents a 5.6 percentage point increase compared to 2014, signaling a positive trend in women’s political participation.
| Country | Percentage of Female Representatives |
|---|---|
| sweden | 45.6% |
| Finland | 45.5% |
| Denmark | 44.7% |
| Cyprus | 14.3% |
| Hungary | 14.6% |
| Romania | 19.5% |
Several EU countries have made meaningful strides in increasing female representation in their national parliaments. Malta, Latvia, and France have seen increases of 10 percentage points or more since 2014.
- Malta: +14.9 percentage points
- Latvia: +13.0 percentage points
- france: +10.3 percentage points
Women in National Governments
The presence of women in national governments also saw an increase. In 2024, women held 35.1% of national government seats, marking a 7.4 percentage point increase from 2014 when the figure stood at 27.7%.
Finland leads the way with 60.0% of government seats held by women. Belgium, Estonia and France also boast high percentages, with at least half of their national government members being female.
- Finland: 60.0%
- Belgium: 55.0%
- Estonia: 50.0%
- France: 50.0%
However, disparities persist. Hungary reported no women in its national government in 2024,while Czechia and Croatia had significantly lower percentages.
- Hungary: 0%
- Czechia: 5.9%
- Croatia: 10.5%
Belgium experienced the most significant increase in the share of women in national government as 2014, followed by Portugal and Lithuania.
- Belgium: +32.8 percentage points
- portugal: +25.7 percentage points
- Lithuania: +24.9 percentage points
European Parliament Trends
While national governments and parliaments show some progress, the European Parliament presents a different scenario. Following the 2024 European elections,”the proportion of women in the European Parliament decreased for the first time in its history.” This reversal of a positive trend raises concerns about gender equality at the EU level.
Despite the overall under-representation, the push for gender equality continues to be a focal point in EU politics. As highlighted, “One hundred years after women won the right to vote in elections or were first elected to parliament in some EU Member States, they continue to be under-represented in politics and public life.”
Conclusion
While there have been advancements in women’s representation in national parliaments and governments across the EU, the decrease in the proportion of women in the European Parliament underscores the ongoing challenges. Continued efforts are needed to ensure gender equality in all levels of political representation.
This article is part of a series published to mark international Women’s day.
Women in EU Politics: Key Insights for 2024
Here’s a breakdown of women’s representation in European Union politics as of 2024, highlighting progress, challenges, and key trends.
how does women’s representation in EU politics look in 2024?
As of 2024, the landscape of women’s representation in EU politics is varied. While there’s been progress in national parliaments and governments, the European Parliament has seen a recent decrease in female representation.
What percentage of seats in national parliaments across the EU are held by women?
in 2024, women hold 33.4% of the seats in national parliaments across the EU. This represents a 5.6 percentage point increase since 2014, indicating a positive trend in women’s political participation at the national level.
Which EU countries have the highest representation of women in their national parliaments?
the EU countries with the highest percentages of female representatives in their national parliaments in 2024 are:
Sweden: 45.6%
Finland: 45.5%
Denmark: 44.7%
Which EU countries have the lowest representation of women in their national parliaments?
The EU countries with the lowest percentages of female representatives in their national parliaments in 2024 are:
Cyprus: 14.3%
Hungary: 14.6%
Romania: 19.5%
Which EU countries have shown the most significant increases in female parliament representation between 2014 and 2024?
Several EU countries have made notable strides in increasing female representation in their national parliaments, with the following leading the way:
Malta: +14.9 percentage points
Latvia: +13.0 percentage points
France: +10.3 percentage points
What is the percentage of women in national governments across the EU in 2024?
In 2024, women hold 35.1% of national government seats across the EU. This figure shows a 7.4 percentage point increase from 2014, when it was 27.7%.
Which EU country has the highest female representation in its national government?
Finland leads the EU in female representation in national government, with 60.0% of government seats held by women in 2024.
Which other EU countries have high percentages of women in their national governments?
Other EU countries with significant female representation in their national governments include:
Belgium: 55.0%
Estonia: 50.0%
France: 50.0%
Which EU countries have the lowest representation of women in their national governments?
The EU countries with the lowest percentages of female representatives in their national governments in 2024 are:
Hungary: 0%
Czechia: 5.9%
Croatia: 10.5%
Belgium,Portugal,and Lithuania have seen the most significant increases in the share of women in national government since 2014:
Belgium: +32.8 percentage points
Portugal: +25.7 percentage points
Lithuania: +24.9 percentage points
What is the trend of women’s representation in the European Parliament?
Unlike the progress seen in national governments and parliaments, the proportion of women in the European Parliament has decreased following the 2024 elections, marking the first such decrease in its history.
Key Statistics on Women in EU Politics 2024
| Category | Statistic |
| :————————————————– | :—————————————— |
| Women in National Parliaments (EU average) | 33.4% |
| Increase in National Parliaments as 2014 | 5.6 percentage points |
| women in National Governments (EU average) | 35.1% |
| Increase in national Governments as 2014 | 7.4 percentage points |
| Highest Female Representation (National Government) | Finland (60.0%) |
| Decrease in European Parliament | Following the 2024 European elections |
what is the overall conclusion regarding women in EU politics in 2024?
While there has been progress in women’s representation in national parliaments and governments across the EU, the decrease in the proportion of women in the European Parliament underscores the ongoing challenges. Continued efforts are needed to ensure gender equality in all levels of political representation.