Women in ministerial positions — all countries

Women in ministerial positions — Northern Europe

Women in ministerial positions in Northern Europe in 2025 — 42.3%. Since 2005, the indicator has risen by 11.4 pp.

2025 42.3% −1.8 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 44.1%2024
Period minimum 30.9%2005

Trend over time

2005–2025 · % of ministers

Women in ministerial positions — Northern Europe, 2005–202530354045200520072009201120132015201720192021202320252005: 30.9%2008: 34.7%2010: 33.6%2012: 32.9%2014: 32.1%2015: 37.5%2016: 34.3%2018: 33.2%2019: 33.2%2020: 35%2022: 42.1%2023: 40.3%2024: 44.1%2025: 42.3%
Change over the period: +11.4 pp Annual average: 0.57 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Northern Europe 42.3%
World 22.4%
Women in ministerial positions — Northern Europe, by year Northern Europe All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 42.3 −1.8 pp
2024 44.1 +3.8 pp
2023 40.3 −1.7 pp
2022 42.1
2020 35 +1.8 pp
2019 33.2 +0 pp
2018 33.2
2016 34.3 −3.1 pp
2015 37.5 +5.3 pp
2014 32.1
2012 32.9
2010 33.6
2008 34.7
2005 30.9

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.