Seats held by women in national parliaments and governments (sdg_05_50)

1.1. Contact organisation

European Commission (including Eurostat)

1.2. Contact organisation unit

E2: Eurostat - Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development

1.3. Contact name

Confidential because of GDPR

1.4. Contact person function

Confidential because of GDPR

1.5. Contact mail address

European Commission

Eurostat – Statistical Office of the European Union

L-2920 Luxembourg

1.6. Contact email address

Confidential because of GDPR

1.7. Contact phone number

Confidential because of GDPR

1.8. Contact fax number

Confidential because of GDPR

2.1. Metadata last certified

26 May 2025

2.2. Metadata last posted

17 March 2026

2.3. Metadata last update

17 March 2026

The indicator is part of the EU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator set. It is used to monitor progress towards SDG 5 on gender equality, which is embedded in the European Commission’s Priorities under 'Supporting people, strenghtening our societs and our social model'.

SDG 5 aims at achieving gender equality by, among other things, full and effective participation and providing equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of political decision-making for women.

Indicator can be considered as similar to global SDG indicator 5.5.1 "Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments and local governments".

The EU Gender Equality Strategy commits to achieving a Union of Equality and presents policy objectives and actions to make significant progress by 2025 towards a gender-equal Europe, where women and men, girls and boys, are free to pursue their chosen path in life and have equal opportunities to thrive. The key objectives are ending gender-based violence; challenging gender stereotypes; closing gender gaps in the labour market; achieving equal participation across different sectors of the economy; addressing the gender pay and pension gaps; closing the gender care gap and achieving gender balance in decision-making and in politics.

4.1. Data description

The indicator measures the proportion of women in national parliaments and national governments.

The national parliament is the national legislative assembly and the indicator refers to both chambers (lower house and an upper house, where relevant). The count of members of a parliament includes the president/speaker/leader of the parliament.

The national government is the executive body with authority to govern a country or a state. Members of government include both senior ministers (having a seat in the cabinet or council of ministers, including the prime minister) and junior ministers (not having a seat in the cabinet). In some countries state-secretaries (or the national equivalent) are considered as junior ministers within the government (with no seat in the cabinet) but in other countries they are not considered as members of the government.

The data stem from the Gender Statistics Database of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE).

4.2. Unit of measure

% of seats.

4.3. Reference Period

4th quarter, except for 2003 (3rd quarter) and the current year (latest available data).

4.4. Accuracy - overall

Indicator from non-ESS source. For assessment of accuracy please refer to the original source (see link to external data source and metadata in section “Annexes”).

4.5. Source data

4.5.1. Source data - Organisation

EIGE (GSD)

4.5.2. Source data - Comment

Data source: The Gender Statistics Database (GSD)

Data provider: European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)

5.1. Frequency of dissemination

5.1.1. Frequency of dissemination - Grade

Every year

5.1.2. Frequency of dissemination - Comment

Indicator is updated annually.

5.2. Timeliness

5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade

T+0 years

5.2.2. Timeliness - Comment

New data points are disseminated within one year after the reference year.

6.1. Reference area

6.1.1. Reference Area - Grade

All EU MS

6.1.2. Reference Area - Comment

Data are presented for all EU Member States.

6.2. Comparability - geographical

6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade

All EU MS

6.2.2. Comparability - geographical - Comment

Data are comparable between all EU Member States respectively other presented countries.

6.3. Coverage - Time

6.3.1. Time Coverage - Grade

> 10 years

6.3.2. Time Coverage - Comment

Presented time series (including EU aggregates) starts in 2003.

6.4. Comparability - over time

6.4.1. Comparability - over time - Grade

> 4 data points

6.4.2. Comparability - over time - Comment

Length of comparable time series without methodological break is longer than 4 data points.

7.1. Dissemination format - Publications

Analysis of indicator is presented in Eurostat's annual monitoring report on Sustainable development in the EU (progress towards SDGs in the EU context).

7.2. Dissemination format - online database

See table sdg_05_50

7.3. Dissemination format - other

Eurostat dedicated section on SDGs.

Copyrights: Eurostat Copyright/Licence Policy is applicable.

Source data and metadata