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20/09/2023 | Indicator

Legislative power: percentage of women in the national legislative body (SDG Indicator 5.5.1a)

It is the proportion of women holding seats in national parliaments. For international comparisons, generally only the single or lower house is considered.

Analysis

The presence of women in legislative bodies has increased gradually in recent years in Latin America and the Caribbean. These positions continue to be occupied mostly by men, but the region continues to hold the lead globally, reaching an average of 33.63% in 2020 (IPU, 2021).   With data as of November 2022, the region reached an average of 34.9% (UIP, 2022). The Caribbean leads the region with an average of 40.9%, compared to the South and Central America subregions, which currently average 29.1% and 38.3%, respectively.

At the regional level, Mexico, Nicaragua and Cuba maintain 50% or more of the representation of women in their parliaments, while Peru, Argentina, Costa Rica, the Plurinational State of Bolivia and Grenada exceed 40%.

Currently, 10 countries do not reach 20% representation of women in parliament: Haiti, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, Belize, Brazil, Paraguay, Bahamas, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Colombia and Guatemala. Of these countries, Haiti ranks as the lowest at the regional level, reaching only 2.5% of women elected in national parliaments.