Despite increases in the number of women at the highest levels of political power, widespread gender inequalities persist, according to the 2021 edition of the IPU–UN Women “Women in politics map”.
The IPU-UN Women map presents new data for women in executive, government, and parliamentary positions as of 1 January 2021. The data shows all-time highs for the number of countries with women Heads of State and/or Heads of Government, as well as for the global share of women ministers.
However, after last year’s spike of 21.3 percent of women holding ministerial portfolios, progression has slowed—with just a small increase to 21.9 percent in 2021. The data also reveals that the number of countries with no women in government has increased, bucking a downward trend seen in the last few years.
There were also sluggish gains in the global growth of women legislators in 2021, as shown in the IPU’s annual report on “Women in parliament”, launched last week. As of 1 January 2021, the global share of women in national parliaments is 25.5 percent, a slight increase from 24.9 percent the year before.
UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said: “No country prospers without the engagement of women. We need women’s representation that reflects all women and girls in all their diversity and abilities, and across all cultural, social, economic, and political situations. This year’s map shows us that we still need bold, decisive action across the world to bring women into the heart of the decision-making spaces in large numbers and as full partners. There’s no doubt this can and should be done. It should be done now.”
IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong said: “This year’s growth in the number of women in political decision-making is just not good enough. Especially when you consider that 70 percent of health, care, and service workers during this pandemic are women. It’s up to all of us, both men and women, to keep pushing for greater representation of women in politics. We have the tools to make it happen. What we need now is the political will.”
The new data was presented ahead of the Commission of the Status of Women, the largest UN gathering on gender equality, which this year has as its priority theme, “Women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”. It also comes in the run-up to the Generation Equality Forum that will deliver multi-stakeholder, game-changing Action Coalitions on six topics including leadership and feminist movements.
More women Heads of State and Government
According to the new data, women occupy the role of Heads of State or Government in 22 countries, up from 20 countries in 2020. As of 1 January 2021, 5.9 percent of elected Heads of State (9 out of 152) and 6.7 percent of Heads of Government (13 out of 193) are women.
Europe is the region with the most countries led by women: five out of nine Heads of State and seven out of 13 Heads of Government. The Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway are all currently led by women.
Fewer gender-equal governments
The number of countries in which women hold 50 percent or more of ministerial positions dropped from 14 in 2020 to 13 in 2021.
Countries with 50 percent or more women ministers:
- Nicaragua – 58.82%
- Austria – 57.14%
- Sweden – 57.14%
- Belgium – 57.14%
- Albania – 56.25%
- Rwanda – 54.84%
- Costa Rica – 52.00%
- Canada – 51.43%
- Andorra, Finland, France, Guinea-Bissau, Spain – 50.00%
More women ministers across all regions
Political will plays a role in advancing gender equality, particularly when it comes to appointing ministers. As a result, some countries saw dramatic increases in their share of women ministers in 2021.
Europe experienced the two biggest jumps in women’s political representation at the executive level in 2021. The share of women in the government went from 8 percent to 43 percent in Lithuania, and more than doubled in Belgium, from 25 percent to 57 percent.
Namibia made the biggest leap forward in Sub-Saharan Africa, increasing its overall share of women ministers from 15 percent to 39 percent. Rwanda still leads the region, maintaining the largest share of women ministers at 54.8 percent as well as topping the global charts again in the share of women parliamentarians.
In the Americas, the newly appointed government in the United States is shaping up to be the most gender-balanced in the country’s history: women in charge of ministerial portfolios rose from 17 percent in 2020 to 46 percent in 2021. The clear leader, however, both globally and in the region, is Nicaragua, with 58.82 percent of ministries led by women.
In Asia, Mongolia progressed from 6.7 percent women ministers in 2020 to 18.8 percent in 2021, the biggest percentage point increase in the region.
In the Middle East and North Africa region, Lebanon currently has the largest share of women ministers at 31.6 percent. Tunisia saw the greatest increase, leaping to 29.2 percent—up from 6.9 percent in 2020.
In the Pacific region, Kiribati gained one woman minister, and its parliament elected a woman Speaker for the first time. New Zealand maintains the largest share of women ministers at 40 percent, increasing by 10 percent compared to the previous year.
Number of countries with no women ministers rises
Despite overall gains across all regions, the number of countries with no women ministers in 2021 increased to 12, compared to nine in 2020.
As of 1 January 2021, no women serve in the governments of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Brunei Darussalam, D.P.R. Korea, Papua New Guinea, Saint Vincent, and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, and Yemen.
Environment is the top portfolio held by women
The environment or energy portfolio jumped from third place in 2020 to the top spot in 2021 of ministerial portfolios held by women.
Women ministers nonetheless continue to dominate portfolios covering social affairs, women’s affairs, and gender equality.
However, women’s share in traditionally male-led ministerial portfolios has slightly increased in 2021 compared to 2020; for example, 11.9 percent of defense portfolios compared to 10.1 percent and 13.6 of finance portfolios compared to 11.5 percent are now led by women.
The share of women ministers in charge of foreign affairs portfolios also saw a significant increase compared with last year, rising from 16.8 percent to 26 percent.
