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Opinion
The IPU and UN Women Women in Politics 2026 map was launched at an event at CSW70 on 11 March 2026. Credit: UN Women/Ryan Brown. Source: UIP
New Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) – UN Women data shows that women remain far from equal in political power, holding only 22.4 percent of cabinet positions and 27.5 percent of parliamentary seats worldwide.
– Around the world, women remain grossly underrepresented in political leadership, and the most powerful decisions remain overwhelmingly made by men. In 2026, only 28 countries will be led by a female Head of State or Government, while 101 countries have never had a female leader, according to the latest data published by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UN Women.
When women are excluded from political leadership, decisions that shape peace, security and economic priorities are made without half the world’s expertise at the table. New global data reveals stagnation and, in some cases, regression in women’s political leadership, particularly in executive government.
Key findings from the data released by the IPU and UN Women include:
- o Women hold just 22.4 percent of cabinet minister positions globally, down from 23.3 percent in 2024, marking a setback after years of gradual progress.
o Fourteen countries have achieved gender parity in cabinets, demonstrating that equal representation is possible; However, eight countries still do not have female ministers.
o Women hold 27.5 percent of parliamentary seats worldwide, up slightly from 27.2 percent in 2025. The increase of just 0.3 percentage points marks the second consecutive year of the slowest growth on record since 2017, highlighting how slowly women are advancing political decision-making power.
o Women are also losing ground in parliamentary leadership. As of January 2026, 54 women hold the position of Speaker of Parliament globally, representing 19.9 percent of all Speakers. This represents a decrease of almost four percentage points from the previous year and the first drop in female presidents in 21 years.
o Women in politics face increasing hostility and intimidation from the public, both online and offline. Seventy-six percent of female MPs surveyed reported experiencing intimidation from the public, compared to 68 percent of men, a trend that deters women from seeking public office and slows progress toward equal political power.
o Even when women reach leadership positions, they are often concentrated in a narrow range of portfolios traditionally linked to social sectors.
o Women lead 90 percent of gender equality ministries and 73 percent of ministries responsible for family and children’s affairs, reinforcing long-standing gender stereotypes in political leadership. Men continue to almost exclusively lead ministries such as defence, internal affairs, justice, economic affairs, governance, health and education.
“At a time of growing global instability, escalating conflict and a visible backlash against women’s rights, excluding women from political leadership weakens the ability of societies to respond to the challenges they face,” said UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous.
“Women bring perspectives and experience that are essential to making better decisions, preventing conflict, and building lasting peace. When women participate fully in political leadership, countries are more stable, policies work better for people, and societies are better prepared to confront the crises shaping our world today.”
“Parity is a moral imperative, because women have an equal right to shape the decisions that govern their lives. But it is also the smartest thing to do. Institutions make better decisions when they reflect the societies they serve. They are better able to identify biases, design fairer responses and earn the public’s trust when women of all backgrounds are present and influential at all levels,” said IPU President Tulia Ackson.
“The IPU has consistently demonstrated that well-designed quotas and strong political will are essential to accelerate change and ensure that women’s voices are heard in democratic decision-making. At the same time, men and women must work together as equal partners to transform political culture, challenge stereotypes and build inclusive parliaments that reflect the people they represent,” said IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong.
Despite the slow pace of change, women around the world continue to push boundaries and assert their place in political life. Removing structural barriers, including discriminatory laws, violence against women in politics and unequal access to resources, as well as challenging negative social norms, will be critical to ensuring women’s equal political leadership in the coming years.
This year’s 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (concluding on March 19), the United Nations’ highest-level intergovernmental body that sets global standards for women’s rights and gender equality, is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reverse the rollback of women’s rights.
The future of democracy will be stronger, fairer and more resilient when women are equally represented in decision-making at all levels.
IPS UN Office
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