Women in ministerial positions — all countries

Women in ministerial positions — OECD

Women in ministerial positions in the OECD in 2025 — 36.1%. Since 2005, the indicator has risen by 15.4 pp.

2025 36.1% +0.5 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 36.8%2022
Period minimum 20.6%2005

Trend over time

2005–2025 · % of ministers

Women in ministerial positions — OECD, 2005–20252025303540200520072009201120132015201720192021202320252005: 20.6%2008: 25.8%2010: 27.1%2012: 24.3%2014: 27%2015: 28.8%2016: 28.8%2018: 32.8%2019: 33.7%2020: 34.8%2022: 36.8%2023: 36.3%2024: 35.6%2025: 36.1%
Change over the period: +15.4 pp Annual average: 0.77 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: OECD

OECD 36.1%
World 22.4%
Women in ministerial positions — OECD, by year OECD All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 36.1 +0.5 pp
2024 35.6 −0.7 pp
2023 36.3 −0.4 pp
2022 36.8
2020 34.8 +1 pp
2019 33.7 +0.9 pp
2018 32.8
2016 28.8 +0.1 pp
2015 28.8 +1.7 pp
2014 27
2012 24.3
2010 27.1
2008 25.8
2005 20.6

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.