GENDER INEQUALITY INDEX and WOMEN in POLITICS SNAPSHOTS

Information on

-        Human Development Index (HDI) Rank

-        Gender Inequality Index (GII) Rank

-        Percentage (%) of Seats of Women in National Parliaments

• % of women in lower/single house
• % of women in upper house/senate (if applicable)

-        Women in National Parliaments Global Rank

-        Year women received right to

• vote
• stand for election

-        Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the           first time

-        Existence of a quota implementation

-        Type of a quota

Republic of AZERBAIJAN

HDI 91

GII 50

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 16.0

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 72

Year women received right to vote: 1918

Year women received right to stand for election: 1918

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No

Hashemite Kingdom of JORDAN

HDI 95

GII 83

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 10.8

% of women in upper house/senate: 11.7

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 97

Year women received right to vote: 1974

Year women received right to stand for election: 1974

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: Yes

Quota type: Reserved seats

Legislated quota for the single/lower house/Majlis Al-Nuwaab

After the House of Representatives was dissolved in November 2009, the Cabinet adopted a new 'temporary' election law in May 2010 for the election in November 2010, raising the number of reserved seats for women from 6 to 12 (only one in each electoral district).

Under Single Non-Transferable Vote (SNTV) in Jordan, voters cast a single vote in a multi-member district. The 108 candidates (men or women) with highest vote totals are declared elected. Secondly, 12 reserved seats - one seat in each district - are won by the women who obtain the highest percentage of votes nationwide but not enough to win a seat in the direct election. Currently, there are 13 women elected - 12 through a women’s quota and one outside the quota (in Amman’s Third District).

In 2003, an amendment of the Election Law 2001 including article 11 was passed by parliament. The law included a quota provision reserving six seats (5.45 percent) for women in the national parliament. The 6 seats are allocated to those women candidates who have achieved the highest percentage of all votes casts in their respective constituencies, apart from women who might be elected in the first place (one women elected directly in 2007).

For the Temporal Electoral Law 2010, the Jordan National Committee for women affairs called for temporary quota measures for women to parliament, and women's groups were calling for a 20 percent quota for women.

Islamic Republic of AFGHANISTAN

HDI 172

GII 141

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 27.7

% of women in upper house/senate: 27.5

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 30

Year women received right to vote: 1963

Year women received right to stand for election: 1963

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: Yes

Quota type: Reserved seats

Legislated quota for the single/lower house/ House of Representatives/Wolesi Jirga: The Wolesi Jirga should have no more than 250 members, and be proportional to the population of each of the provinces, and contain, on average, two women from each province (Constitution, Article 83).

The number of seats from each province and the number of female seats from each province is decided by the Independent Electoral Commission, although no province shall have less than two seats and the female seats shall be at least twice the number of provinces. (Election Law, Article 20 & 23). Currently this means 68 out of the 249 to be distributed equals 27%, including at least 3 women in 10 reserved seats for Kuchis. (Independent Elections Commission).

If there are not enough female candidates on the list to occupy the allocated seat, the Commission shall adopt measures to make sure the seats do not remain vacant.

The most voted female candidates in each constituency shall be awarded seats .

Legislated quota for the upper house/ House of Elders/Meshrano Jirga:

The Meshrano Jirga consists of 1/3 representatives from provincial, 1/3 district councils and 1/3 presidential appointees. The presidential appointees should be from experts and experienced persons and 50% of them should be women. Thus, around 17 percent of the seats in the Meshrano Jirga are reserved for women.

Legislated quota at the sub-national level:

One quarter of the seats in each provincial council shall be reserved for female candidates. The provisional councils range from 9 to 29 members and women can make up more than the reserved quarter.

Republic of ALBANIA

HDI 70

GII 41

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 16.4

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 71

Year women received right to vote: 1920

Year women received right to stand for election: 1920

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: 2005 (re-elected as Speaker of Parliament for a second four-year mandate in September 2009.)

Quota: Yes

Quota type: Legislated candidate quotas

Legislated quota for the lower house:

For each electoral zone, at least thirty percent of the multi-name list and/or one of the first three names on the multi-name list must be from each gender.

Should they violate the provision of this article, political parties shall pay a fine of up to one tenth of the state funds for the electoral campaign until the violation ceases.

Legislated quota at the sub-national level:

For elections of local government organs, one in every three names on the list must belong to each gender.

Should they violate the provision of this article, political parties shall pay a fine of up to one tenth of the state funds for the electoral campaign until the violation ceases.

One in every three names on the list must belong to each gender.

State of the UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

HDI 30

GII 38

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 22.5

While one woman was directly elected to the Federal National Council (FNC), the legislative body, the government nominated eight others to the 40-member Council, which translates into 22.5% share of the seats.

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 44/45

Year women received right to vote: 2006

Year women received right to stand for election: 2006

(In December 2006, the Federal National Council was renewed. Men and women were entitled to vote, elected and appointed.)

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No

Republic of INDONESIA

HDI 124

GII 100

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 18.0

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 64 

Year women received right to vote: 1945, 2003

Year women received right to stand for election: 1945

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: 1945

Quota: Yes

Quota type: Legislated candidate quotas

Legislated quota for the single/lower house/ Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat:

Regarding elections to the House of Representatives at least one in every three candidates included on a political party list should be women.

Previously, Article 214 of the Electoral Law allowed parties to present closed candidate lists and, thereby, they could adopt the zipper system ensuring that one third of the elected candidates were women. In December 2008, the Constitutional Court deemed Article 214 to be unconstitutional. 

Republic of UZBEKISTAN

HDI 115

GII ..

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 22.0

% of women in upper house/senate: 15.0

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 47

Year women received right to vote: 1938

Year women received right to stand for election: 1938

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: 2008

Quota: Yes

Quota type: Legislated candidate quotas

Legislated quota for the lower house:

The number of women ought to be not less than 30% of the total number of candidates for the election nominated by a political party.

Legislated quota at the sub-national level:

The number of women ought to be not less than 30% of the total number of candidates for the election nominated by a political party.

Republic of UGANDA

HDI 161

GII 116

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 34.9

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 16

Year women received right to vote: 1962

Year women received right to stand for election: 1962

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: Yes

Quota type: Reserved seats

Reserved seats for the single/lower house:

The parliament shall consist of one woman representative for every district.

Reserved seats at the sub-national level:

1/3 of the membership of each local government council shall be reserved for women.

Islamic Republic of IRAN

HDI 88

GII 92

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 2.8

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 131

Year women received right to vote: 1963

Year women received right to stand for election: 1963

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No

Islamic Republic of PAKISTAN

HDI 145

GII 115

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 22.2

% of women in upper house/senate: 17.0

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 45

Year women received right to vote: 1956

Year women received right to stand for election: 1956

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: 2008

Quota: Yes

Quota type: Reserved seats

Legislated quota for the single/lower house/ national assembly:

17.5% are reserved for women. These seats are allocated to the political parties proportionally from the provinces, according to the electoral result.

Legislated quota for the upper house/senate:

4 out of the 100 seats in the Senate are reserved for women.

Legislated quota at the sub-national level:

At each level of the three tiered local government, from top to bottom, District/City District Administration, Tehsil/Town Administration and Union Administration having reserved seats to women by 33%.

17.6% of the Provincial Assemblies at the regional level are reserved for women. For the general seats, single-member constituencies are used, the candidate with the most number of votes are elected; for womens seats, multi-member constituencies with proportional representation are used. The number of women elected for each party is based on the number of votes each party got in the election.

Kingdom of BAHRAIN

HDI 42

GII 67

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 10.0

% of women in upper house/senate: 27.5

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 102

Year women received right to vote: 1973, 2002

Year women received right to stand for election: 1973, 2002

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No

BRUNEI-DARUSSALAM

HDI 33

GII ..

Seats in national parliament (% female): n/a

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: n/a

Year women received right to vote: n/a

Year women received right to stand for election: n/a

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: n/a

People’s Republic of BANGLADESH

HDI 146

GII 112

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 18.6

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 62

Year women received right to vote: 1935, 1972

Year women received right to stand for election: 1935, 1972

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: Yes

Quota type: Reserved seats

Reserved seats for the single/lower house/Parliament/Jatiya Sangsad:

On 16 May 2004, the constitutional amendment was passed to reintroduce quotas for women. The number of seats in parliament was raised by additional 45 seats (13 %) are reserved for women. The seats are allocated to parties in proportion to their overall share of the vote. This quota system replaces the previous quota law which expired in 2001.

Reserved seats at the sub-national level:

In 1993 direct election of reserved seats for women in the union parishad (union councils) was provided in legislation by the Parliament. The first election to the union parishad, under the new provision, was held in 1997.

Republic of BENIN

HDI 167

GII 133

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 8.4

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 111

Year women received right to vote: 1956

Year women received right to stand for election: 1956

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No 

BURKINA-FASO (then Upper Volta)

HDI 181

GII 121

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 15.3

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 75 

Year women received right to vote: 1958

Year women received right to stand for election: 1958

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: Yes 

Quota type: Legislated candidate quotas

Legislated quota for the single/lower house/Assemblée nationale:

Lists of candidates must include at least 30% of either sex

Legislated quota at the sub-national level:

Lists of candidates must include at least 30% of either sex. If a political party fails to meet the quota provision, its public funding for election campaigns will be cut by 50 %. If a party reaches or exceeds the 30% quota, it will receive additional funding.

Republic of TAJIKISTAN

HDI 127

GII 61

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 19.0

% of women in upper house/senate: 14.7 

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 59 

Year women received right to vote: 1924

Year women received right to stand for election: 1924

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No

Republic of TURKEY

HDI 92

GII 7

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 14.4

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 81 

Year women received right to vote: 1930

Year women received right to stand for election: 1930

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a (deputy speakers of the Parliament in 2007)

Quota: No

TURKMENISTAN

HDI 102

GII ..

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 16.8

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 69 

Year women received right to vote: 1927

Year women received right to stand for election: 1927

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: 2006

Quota: No 

Republic of CHAD

HDI 183

GII 145

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 12.8

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 88 

Year women received right to vote: 1958

Year women received right to stand for election: 1958

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No 

Republic of TOGO

HDI 162

GII 124

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 11.1

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 95 

Year women received right to vote: 1945

Year women received right to stand for election: 1945

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No 

Republic of TUNISIA

HDI 94

GII 45

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 29.0

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 26 

Year women received right to vote: 1959

Year women received right to stand for election: 1959

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: Yes 

Quota type: Legislated candidate quotas

Legislated quota for the single/lower house/Al-Majlis Al-Watani Al-Taasasi:

Candidates shall file their candidacy applications on the basis of parity between men and women. Lists that do not follow the principle of gender parity will only be admitted when the number of seats, in the relevant constituency, is odd. Lists shall be established in such a way to alternate between men and women. 

Elections took place on 23 October 2011.  

People’s Democratic Republic of ALGERIA

HDI 96

GII 71

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 7.7

% of women in upper house/senate: 5.1 

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 115 

Year women received right to vote: 1962

Year women received right to stand for election: 1962

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: Yes 

A new law adopted by the council of ministers on 28 August 2011, which establishes a quota for female candidates, will come into force with the 2012 parliamentary vote.

Any list of candidates for legislative elections or elections to wilayas and communal assemblies must include a 1/3 proportion of women candidates. Failure to abide by the rules will result in the list being rejected. Any elected official who does not serve out their full term will be replaced by a candidate of the same sex from the list presented at the original ballot. To encourage political parties to grant more opportunities to women, the state has promised financial assistance for political parties based on the number of women candidates elected to different assemblies.

In the amended version adopted by Algeria's national assembly, the number of female MPs will be directly proportional to the number of seats in each wilaya (constituency).
With the new law, 20% of seats will be reserved for women in constituencies that have four seats, 30% for consistuencies with five seats, 35% for those with 14 seats or more and 40% for constituencies with more than 32 seats. Algeria's diaspora will be allowed a 50 percent quota for women.

Former Quota type: Voluntary political party quotas adopted by political parties

Single/Lower house/ Al-Majlis Al-Chaabi Al-Watani:

Party National Liberation Front-FLN-In each province, 2 out of the first 5 names on a list must be women in each of the 48 provinces.

Party Movement of Society for Peace-The HMS-aims to ensure that 1/5th of candidates at the regional level are women. In districts with small magnitudes, one of every three candidates should be a woman. 

Republic of DJIBOUTI

HDI 165

GII ..

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 13.8

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 84 

Year women received right to vote: 1946

Year women received right to stand for election: 1986

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No 

Kingdom of SAUDI ARABIA

HDI 56

GII 135

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 0

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 136 

Year women received right to vote: n/a

Year women received right to stand for election: n/a

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No 

Women cannot vote or be elected to high political positions. However, the King has declared that women will be able to vote and run in the 2015 local elections, and be on his advisory council.  

Republic of SENEGAL

HDI 155

GII 114

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 22.7

% of women in upper house/senate: 40 

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 44 

Year women received right to vote: 1945

Year women received right to stand for election: 1945

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: Yes 

Quota type: Legislated candidate quotas

This new legal framework for gender parity in electoral lists will be first applied during the next parliamentary elections to be held in 2012. 

Legislated quota for the single/lower house/Assemblée nationale:

The electoral law was amended in 2010, providing a mandatory requirement that all candidate lists for legislative, regional, municipal and rural elections be comprised of equal number of male and female candidates, presented on the list in an alternating manner. Electoral contestants not complying with the gender parity requirement are to be disqualitifed from the electoral process. The amended electoral law provides for altenating female and male candidates on electoral lists.

Legislated quota for the upper house/Senate/Sénat:

The electoral law was amended in 2010, providing a mandatory requirement that all candidate lists for legislative, regional, municipal and rural elections be comprised of equal number of male and female candidates, presented on the list in an alternating manner. This new legal framework for gender parity in electoral lists will be first applied during the next parliamentary elections to be held in 2012.

At least 2/5ths of the Senators shall be women.

An Act of Parliament shall promote the equal access of women and men to elected office and public functions.

Legislated quota at the sub-national level:

The electoral law was amended in 2010, providing a mandatory requirement that all candidate lists for the national assembly, regional, municipal and rural elections be comprised of equal number of male and female candidates, presented on the list in an alternating manner. This new legal framework for gender parity in electoral lists will be first applied during the next parliamentary elections to be held in 2012.  

Under the new electoral legislation, adopted in 2010 and to be applied first in the elections of 2012, electoral contestants not complying with the gender parity requiremenet are to be disqualitifed from the electoral process.

The amended electoral law (2010) provides for altenating female and male candidates on electoral lists.

Republic of SUDAN

HDI 169

GII 128

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 25.1

% of women in upper house/senate: 17.9  

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 36 

Year women received right to vote: 1964

Year women received right to stand for election: 1964

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: Yes 

Quota type: Reserved seats

Reserved seats for the single/lower house/ Majlis Watani:

25% of the seats in the assembly are reserved for women. 

SYRIAN Arab Republic

HDI 119

GII 86

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 12.4

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 91 

Year women received right to vote: 1949, 1953

Year women received right to stand for election: 1953

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No 

Republic of SURINAME

HDI 104

GII ..

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 9.8

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 104 

Year women received right to vote: 1948

Year women received right to stand for election: 1948

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No 

Republic of SIERRA LEONE

HDI 180

GII 137

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 13.2

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 87 

Year women received right to vote: 1961

Year women received right to stand for election: 1961

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No 

Republic of SOMALIA

HDI ...

GII ..

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 6.8

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 118 

Year women received right to vote: 1956

Year women received right to stand for election: 1956

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: 1981

Quota: No 

Republic of IRAQ

HDI 132

GII 117

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 25.2

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 35 

Year women received right to vote: 1980

Year women received right to stand for election: 1980

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: Yes 

Quota type: Legislated candidate quotas

Legislated quota for the single/lower house/Council of Representatives of Iraq:

The electoral law shall aim to achieve the goal of having women constitute no less than 1/4th of the members of the National Assembly and of having fair representation for all communities in Iraq. No fewer that 1 out of the first 3 candidates on the list must be a woman; no fewer than 2 out of the first 6 candidates on the list must be a woman and so forth until the end of the list.

Sultanate of OMAN

HDI 89

GII 49

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 1.2

% of women in upper house/senate: 18.1 

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 133 

Year women received right to vote: 1994, 2003

Year women received right to stand for election: 1994, 2003

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No 

Republic of GABON

HDI 106

GII 103

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 14.7

% of women in upper house/senate: 17.6 

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 79 

Year women received right to vote: 1956

Year women received right to stand for election: 1956

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: 2009

Quota: No 

Republic of the GAMBIA

HDI 168

GII 127

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 7.5

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 116 

Year women received right to vote: 1960

Year women received right to stand for election: 1960

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: 2006

Quota: No 

Republic of GUYANA

HDI 117

GII 106

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 30.0

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 24 

Year women received right to vote: 1953

Year women received right to stand for election: 1945

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: Yes 

Quota type: Legislated candidate quotas

For the single/lower house/National Assembly:

On each political party list, one-third of the candidates must be women. If the list does not comply with the quota, the Guyana Elections Commission shall notify this and allow the party to rectify it. Only when deemed correct by the Commission, can the list be approved. The order of the names shall be as the party deems fit. 

Republic of GUINEA

HDI 178

GII ..

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: n/a 

The parliament was dissolved following the December 2008 coup.

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: n/a 

Year women received right to vote: 1958

Year women received right to stand for election: 1958

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No 

Republic of GUINEA-BISSAU

HDI 176

GII ..

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 10.0 

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 102 

Year women received right to vote: 1977

Year women received right to stand for election: 1977

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No 

State of PALESTINE

HDI 114

GII ..

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 12.8 

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 88 

Year women received right to vote: ..

Year women received right to stand for election: ..

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: Yes 

Under a new quota system in 2004, guaranteing a greater level of participation in political life at both local and parliamentary levels, the number of women deputies increase to at least 13 within the 132-seat Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) guaranteed.  

Union of the COMOROS

HDI 163

GII ..

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 3.0 

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 130 

Year women received right to vote: 1956

Year women received right to stand for election: 1956

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No 

KYRGYZ Republic

HDI 126

GII 66

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 23.3 

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 43 

Year women received right to vote: 1918

Year women received right to stand for election: 1918

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: Yes 

Quota type: Reserved seats

Legislated quota for the single/lower house/Supreme Council/Jogorku Kenesh:

The Electoral Law specifies a 30% quota for either sex on electoral lists. Lists that fail to meet the quota requirement will be rejected by the Electoral Commission. No more than three positions can separate men and women.

State of QATAR

HDI 37

GII 111

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 0 

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 136 

Year women received right to vote: 2003

According to the new constitution approved in 2003, women are granted suffrage. To date, no legislative elections have been held. Elections previewed for 2013. 

Year women received right to stand for election: 2003

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No 

Republic of KAZAKHSTAN

HDI 68

GII 56

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 13.6 

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 85 

Year women received right to vote: 1924, 1993

Year women received right to stand for election: 1924, 1993

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No 

Republic of CAMEROON

HDI 150

GII 134

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 13.9 

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 83 

Year women received right to vote: 1946

Year women received right to stand for election: 1946

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: Yes 

Quota type: Voluntary political party quotas

In 1996 the Cameeroon People's Democratic Movement-RDPC introduced a 25-30% quota for women on electoral lists.

The Social Democratic Front-SDF has adopted a 25% quota. 

Republic of COTE D'IVOIRE/IVORY COAST

HDI 170

GII 136

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 8.9 

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 107 

Year women received right to vote: 1952

Year women received right to stand for election: 1952

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a (woman vice presidents of the parliament since 1970)

Quota: Yes 

Quota type: Voluntary political party quotas

Since 2001 the Ivorian Public Front-FPI has a 30% quota for women at all levels of its structures, including electoral candidate lists. The quota has not always been put into practice.

State of KUWAIT

HDI 63

GII 37

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 7.7 

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 115 

Year women received right to vote: 2005

Year women received right to stand for election: 2005

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No

Republic of LEBANON

HDI 71

GII 76

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 3.1 

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 129 

Year women received right to vote: 1952

Year women received right to stand for election: 1952

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No 

LIBYA

HDI 64

GII 51

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 7.7 (as of end of 2009)

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 115 

Year women received right to vote: 1964

Year women received right to stand for election: 1964

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No

Parliamentary elections expected to be held in 2012 under the supervision of the National Transitional Council, the interim government of the new Libya. 

Republic of MALDIVES

HDI 109

GII 52

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 6.5 

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 120 

Year women received right to vote: 1932

Year women received right to stand for election: 1932

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No 

Republic of MALI

HDI 175

GII 143

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 10.2 

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 101 

Year women received right to vote: 1956

Year women received right to stand for election: 1956

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: Yes

Quota type: Voluntary political party quotas

Alliance pour la Démocratie au Mali/Parti Africain pour la Solidarité et la Justice, ADEMA – PASJ, has a 30% quota 

MALAYSIA

HDI 61

GII 43

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 9.9

% of women in upper house/senate: 28.1 

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 103 

Year women received right to vote: 1957

Year women received right to stand for election: 1957

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No

Arab Republic of EGYPT

HDI 113

GII ..

Seats in national parliament (% female): n/a

The People’s Assembly and the Shoura Assembly were dissolved by the Egypt Supreme Council of Armed Forces on 13 February 2011.

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: n/a 

Year women received right to vote: 1956

Year women received right to stand for election: 1956

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: Yes

The women’s nomination quota was revoked in the new electoral laws. Currently, the election law says that each proportional representation (PR) list must include one female candidate, but does not oblige the party to put a woman in winnable positions on the list. The 332 People’s Assembly seats elected through proportionality by party lists are elected in districts that range from four to 12 members in size. However, less than a quarter of the 46 districts are as large as 10 or 12 members and the vast majority of districts are four to eight members. Based on current polling trends, it is likely that parties will win a maximum of one or two seats per district. It is possible that a single party could win three (or four) seats in the 11 districts of 10 or 12 members in size. This means that in smaller districts if a female candidate is not in the top two positions, she will stand little to no chance of winning.

If every party were to place a female candidate in the second spot on their list, it is likely that such a candidate would secure a small, but significant portion of seats.17 However, if larger parties place a female candidate third on the list, instead of second, then the number of female candidates that win will drop dramatically. It remains to be seen how well female candidates fare running for IC seats. Past election data indicates that female candidates not running for a PR seat have fared poorly.                                        

Kingdom of MOROCCO

HDI 130

GII 104

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 10.5

% of women in upper house/senate: 2.2 

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 100 

Year women received right to vote: 1959

Year women received right to stand for election: 1963

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: Yes

Quota type: Reserved seats + voluntary party quotas

Union Socialiste des Forces Populaires, USFP, has 20% quota for party lists. 

Islamic Republic of MAURITANIA

HDI 159

GII 126

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 22.1

% of women in upper house/senate: 14.3 

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 26 

Year women received right to vote: 1961

Year women received right to stand for election: 1961

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: Yes

Quota type: Legislated C-candidate quotas

Legislated candidate quota for Single/Lower house/Al Jamiya-Al-Wataniya:

In constituencies which are to elect two members to the National Assembly, all candidate lists must include one candidate of each sex. Where three are to be elected, the lists must include at least one female candidate placed first or second. Where more than three are to be elected, each group of four candidates on the list from the top down must include an equal number of candidates of both sexes. Among the total number of candidates on the list, one sex can only surpass the other by one.

The electoral administration may reject candidate lists that do not comply with the quota regulations. Political parties that elect more women than required by the quota will get a financial benefit (for municipal as well as national elections).

When three members are to be elected in a constituency, the lists must include at least one female candidate placed first or second. When more than three are to be elected, each group of four must include an equal number of candidates of both sexes.

Legislated candidate quota for the Upper House/Senate:

For the Senate, which is indirectly elected by municipal councillors, the candidate lists in the constituencies in the capital area must include at least one female candidate placed as number one on the list.

The electoral administration may reject candidate lists that do not comply with the quota regulations. Political parties that elect more women than required by the quota will get a financial benefit (for municipal as well as national elections).

Legislated candidate quota at the sub-national level:

According to decree 2006-029 women have the right to a quota minimum of 20 percent of the seats. In decision 2165 this is translated into rules about candidacy: In election for municipal councils with 9-11 councillors, women candidates must be placed as no. 1 and 4, or 2 and 4 of the list of each party. When the council has 15-17 councillors, women candidates must be placed as no. 1 or 2, and subsequently as no. 5 and 7. In case of 19 or more councillors, women must be placed as no 1 or 2, and subsequently as no. 5, 7 and 9.

The electoral administration may reject candidate lists that do not comply with the quota regulations. Political parties that elect more women than required by the quota will get a financial benefit (for municipal as well as national elections).

In election for municipal councils with 9-11 councillors, women candidates must be placed as no. 1 and 4, or 2 and 4 of the list of each party. When the council has 15-17 councillors, women candidates must be placed as no. 1 or 2, and subsequently as no. 5 and 7. In case of 19 or more councillors, women must be placed as no 1 or 2, and subsequently as no. 5, 7 and 9.

Republic of MOZAMBIQUE

HDI 184

GII 125

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 39.2

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 11 

Year women received right to vote: 1975

Year women received right to stand for election: 1975

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: Yes

Quota type: Voluntary political party quotas

Front for the Liberation of Mozambique, FRELIMO, has adopted a quota system for election nomination lists and the presence of women in their party leadership since 1994. The party's policy requires that a third of the candidates (30%) should be women. In addition, the quota system was accompanied by a commitment to balance the distribution of men and women through the list. Currently, FRELIMO has won 191 seats, more than three-fourths majority. 

Republic of NIGER

HDI 186

GII 144

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 13.3

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 86 

Year women received right to vote: 1948

Year women received right to stand for election: 1948

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: Yes

Quota type: Reserved seats and Voluntary party quotas

Reserved seats for the Single/Lower house/Assemblée nationale:

In 2002 a quota law was adopted by the Government obliges all competing political parties to allot 10 percent of their elected positions to women.

Voluntary Party Quotas

Prior to multiparty elections in the 1990s, the National Movement for a Society in Development, MNSD-NASSARA, set aside 5 seats for women through the quota system adopted by the party. In 1999 the party adopted a 10% quota for women on electoral lists in party statutes.

Federal Republic of NIGERIA

HDI 156

GII ..

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 3.7

% of women in upper house/senate: 3.7

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 127

Year women received right to vote: 1958

Year women received right to stand for election: 1958

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: 2007

Quota: No

Republic of YEMEN

HDI 154

GII 146

Seats in national parliament (% female)

% of women in lower/single house: 0.3

% of women in upper house/senate: 3.7

World Ranking on Women in National Parliaments: 135

Year women received right to vote: 1967, 1970

Year women received right to stand for election: 1967, 1970

Year a woman became Presiding Officer of parliament or of one of its houses for the first time: n/a

Quota: No