Only 1 in 7 countries is led by a woman as global political power remains dominated by men
New Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) – UN Women data shows women remain far from having equal political power, holding just 22.4% of cabinet posts and 27.5% of parliamentary seats worldwide.
Across the world, women remain vastly under-represented in political leadership, with the most powerful decisions still overwhelmingly made by men. In 2026, only 28 countries are led by a woman Head of State or Government, while 101 countries have never had a woman leader, according to the latest data released by the IPU and UN Women.
When women are shut out of political leadership, decisions that shape peace, security and economic priorities are made without half of the world’s experience at the table. The 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 IPU and UN Women include:
. Women hold just 22.4% of cabinet minister positions globally, down from 23.3% in 2024, marking a reversal after years of gradual progress.
. 14 countries have achieved gender parity in cabinet, demonstrating that equal representation is possible, yet eight countries still have no women ministers at all.
. Women hold 27.5% of parliamentary seats worldwide, up slightly from 27.2% in 2025. The increase of just 0.3 percentage points marks the second consecutive year of the slowest growth recorded since 2017, highlighting how slowly women are advancing in political decision-making.
. Women are also losing ground in parliamentary leadership. As of January 2026, 54 women serve as Speakers of Parliament globally, representing 19.9% of all Speakers. This represents a nearly four-percentage-point decline from the previous year and the first drop in women Speakers in 21 years.
. Women in politics face rising hostility and intimidation from the public, both online and offline. 76% of women parliamentarians surveyed reported experiencing intimidation by the public, compared with 68% of men, a trend that deters women from seeking office and is slowing progress toward equal political power.
. Even when women reach leadership positions, they are often concentrated in a narrow range of portfolios traditionally linked to social sectors.
. Women lead 90% of gender equality ministries and 73% of ministries responsible for family and children’s affairs, reinforcing long-standing gender stereotypes in political leadership. Men almost exclusively continue to lead ministries like defence, home affairs, justice, economic affairs, governance, health and education.
“At a time of growing global instability, escalating conflicts and a visible backlash against women’s rights, shutting women out of political leadership weakens societies’ ability to respond to the challenges they face,” said Sima Bahous, UN Women Executive Director. “Women bring perspectives and experience that are essential for making better decisions, preventing conflict and building lasting peace. When women are fully involved in political leadership, countries are more stable, policies work better for people, and societies are better prepared to face 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 smart thing to do. Institutions make better decisions when they reflect the societies they serve. They are better able to identify bias, design fairer responses and earn public trust when women from all backgrounds are present, and influential, at every level,” said IPU President Tulia Ackson.
“The IPU has constantly proven that well-designed quotas and strong political will are essential to speed up 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 years ahead.
This year’s 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women – 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.
The IPU-UN Women map, presents global rankings for women in executive and government positions as of 1 January 2026.
