Women in ministerial positions — all countries

Women in ministerial positions — South America

Women in ministerial positions in South America in 2025 — 32.5%. Since 2005, the indicator has risen by 17.3 pp.

2025 32.5% +2 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 34.6%2023
Period minimum 15.3%2005

Trend over time

2005–2025 · % of ministers

Women in ministerial positions — South America, 2005–20251520253035200520072009201120132015201720192021202320252005: 15.3%2008: 24.9%2010: 24.5%2012: 24.2%2014: 25.2%2015: 21.4%2016: 24.8%2018: 27.6%2019: 32.1%2020: 27.8%2022: 31.2%2023: 34.6%2024: 30.6%2025: 32.5%
Change over the period: +17.3 pp Annual average: 0.86 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

South America 32.5%
World 22.4%
Women in ministerial positions — South America, by year South America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 32.5 +2 pp
2024 30.6 −4 pp
2023 34.6 +3.3 pp
2022 31.2
2020 27.8 −4.3 pp
2019 32.1 +4.5 pp
2018 27.6
2016 24.8 +3.4 pp
2015 21.4 −3.8 pp
2014 25.2
2012 24.2
2010 24.5
2008 24.9
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.