Women in ministerial positions — all countries

Women in ministerial positions — Low-income countries

Women in ministerial positions in low-income countries in 2025 — 21.8%. Since 2005, the indicator has risen by 6.5 pp.

2025 21.8% −2.1 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 24.2%2022
Period minimum 15.3%2005

Trend over time

2005–2025 · % of ministers

Women in ministerial positions — Low-income countries, 2005–20251517.52022.525200520072009201120132015201720192021202320252005: 15.3%2008: 15.9%2010: 18.1%2012: 18.9%2014: 20.5%2015: 18%2016: 17.1%2018: 22.8%2019: 23.9%2020: 23.8%2022: 24.2%2023: 23.2%2024: 23.9%2025: 21.8%
Change over the period: +6.5 pp Annual average: 0.32 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Low-income countries

Low-income countries 21.8%
World 22.4%
Women in ministerial positions — Low-income countries, by year Low-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 21.8 −2.1 pp
2024 23.9 +0.7 pp
2023 23.2 −1 pp
2022 24.2
2020 23.8 −0 pp
2019 23.9 +1.1 pp
2018 22.8
2016 17.1 −0.9 pp
2015 18 −2.6 pp
2014 20.5
2012 18.9
2010 18.1
2008 15.9
2005 15.3

About the indicator

The share of women among the ministers of a government. The indicator complements the share of women in parliament and often diverges from it: parliamentary representation in many countries is backed by quotas, while the composition of a government is formed by the decision of one person or party, so it reacts faster and shifts more sharply — from zero to full parity within a single round of appointments.

Important: The aggregate for a country group is a simple average across countries rather than a weighted one: the correct weight would be the number of ministers, and the source does not publish it. A simple average answers the question of how widespread the practice is, not of how many women ministers there are in the world.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.