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
21 April 2026
2.3. Metadata last update
21 April 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 Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030 puts forward concrete actions to embed gender equality into every aspect of life, both online and offline, from education and health to work and leadership. It enlarges the scope of the previous strategy by covering all the principles of the Roadmap for Women’s Rights. In addition to ensuring that recently adopted gender equality legislation is duly implemented, the strategy tackles threats such as gender-based cyberviolence, anti-gender narratives and AI-related risks, which particularly affect women. It adopts an intersectional perspective throughout, and combines gender mainstreaming with targeted actions. At the same time, it seeks to further engage men and boys as key actors and beneficiaries of gender equality. It further enhances consistency between internal and external gender equality policy, and pays due attention to the institutional mechanisms necessary to deliver on gender equality, including funding and support to civil society.
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 year5.1.2. Frequency of dissemination - Comment
Indicator is updated annually.
5.2. Timeliness
5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade
T+0 years5.2.2. 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 MS6.1.2. Reference Area - Comment
Data are presented for all EU Member States.
6.2. Comparability - geographical
6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade
All EU MS6.2.2. 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 years6.3.2. 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 points6.4.2. 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.
