Women in parliament — all countries

Women in parliament — Western Africa

Women in parliament in Western Africa in 2025 — 22%. Since 1997, the indicator has risen by 15 pp.

2025 22% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 22.1%2024
Period minimum 7%1997

Trend over time

1997–2025 · % of seats

Women in parliament — Western Africa, 1997–2025010203019972000200320062009201220152018202120241997: 7%1998: 7.3%1999: 8.2%2000: 7%2001: 7.8%2002: 8.2%2003: 9.8%2004: 10.8%2005: 11.9%2006: 12.6%2007: 13.6%2008: 12.7%2009: 12.5%2010: 12.7%2011: 12.7%2012: 14.7%2013: 14.6%2014: 15.6%2015: 14.9%2016: 15.2%2017: 15.6%2018: 15.4%2019: 15.5%2020: 16.3%2021: 17.8%2022: 19.3%2023: 21.5%2024: 22.1%2025: 22%
Change over the period: +15 pp Annual average: 0.53 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Western Africa 22%
World 27.2%
Women in parliament — Western Africa, by year Western Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 22 −0.1 pp
2024 22.1 +0.6 pp
2023 21.5 +2.2 pp
2022 19.3 +1.5 pp
2021 17.8 +1.5 pp
2020 16.3 +0.8 pp
2019 15.5 +0.1 pp
2018 15.4 −0.2 pp
2017 15.6 +0.4 pp
2016 15.2 +0.3 pp
2015 14.9 −0.6 pp
2014 15.6 +1 pp
2013 14.6 −0.2 pp
2012 14.7 +2.1 pp
2011 12.7 −0 pp
2010 12.7 +0.2 pp
2009 12.5 −0.2 pp
2008 12.7 −0.8 pp
2007 13.6 +1 pp
2006 12.6 +0.7 pp
2005 11.9 +1.1 pp
2004 10.8 +0.9 pp
2003 9.8 +1.6 pp
2002 8.2 +0.4 pp
2001 7.8 +0.7 pp
2000 7 −1.2 pp
1999 8.2 +0.9 pp
1998 7.3 +0.3 pp
1997 7

About the indicator

The share of seats held by women in the national parliament (in bicameral systems, in the lower or single chamber). Data of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. The indicator depends directly on the electoral system and on the presence of quotas: in countries with proportional representation and gender quotas the share is consistently higher.

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