New York - Across the world, women remain vastly under-represented in political leadership, with the most powerful decisions still overwhelmingly made by men. In 2026, only 28 countries are led by a woman Head of State or Government, while 101 countries have never had a woman leader, according to the latest data released by Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UN Women.
When women are shut out of political leadership, decisions that shape peace, security, and economic priorities are made without half of the world's experience at the table. The new global data reveals stagnation, and in some cases regression, in women's political leadership, particularly in executive government.
Key findings from the data released by IPU and UN Women include:
- Women hold just 22.4 per cent of cabinet minister positions globally, down from 23.3 per cent in 2024, marking a reversal after years of gradual progress.
- Fourteen countries have achieved gender parity in cabinets, demonstrating that equal representation is possible, yet eight countries still have no women ministers at all.
- Women hold 27.5 per cent of parliamentary seats worldwide, up slightly from 27.2 per cent in 2025. The increase of just 0.3 percentage points marks the second consecutive year of the slowest growth recorded since 2017, highlighting how slowly women are advancing in political decision-making power.
- Women are also losing ground in parliamentary leadership. As of January 2026, 54 women serve as Speakers of Parliament globally, representing 19.9 per cent of all Speakers. This represents a nearly four-percentage-point decline from the previous year and the first drop in women Speakers in 21 years.
- Women in politics face rising hostility and intimidation from the public, both online and offline. Seventy-six per cent of women parliamentarians surveyed report experiencing intimidation by the public, compared with 68 per cent of men - a trend that deters women from seeking office and slows progress toward equal political power.
- Even when women reach leadership positions, they are often concentrated in a narrow range of portfolios traditionally linked to social sectors.
- Women lead 90 per cent of gender-equality ministries and 73 per cent of ministries responsible for family and children's affairs, reinforcing long-standing gender stereotypes in political leadership. Men continue to lead almost exclusively ministries like defense, home affairs, justice, economic affairs, governance, health, and education.
"At a time of growing global instability, escalating conflicts and a visible backlash against women's rights, shutting women out of political leadership weakens societies' ability to respond to the challenges they face," said UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous. "Women bring perspectives and experience that are essential for making better decisions, preventing conflict and building lasting peace. When women are fully involved in political leadership, countries are more stable, policies work better for people, and societies are better prepared to face the crises shaping our world today."
"Parity is a moral imperative, because women have an equal right to shape the decisions that govern their lives. But it is also the smart thing to do. Institutions make better decisions when they reflect the societies they serve. They are better able to identify bias, design fairer responses, and earn public trust when women from all backgrounds are present, and influential, at every level," said IPU President Tulia Ackson.
"The IPU has constantly proven that well-designed quotas and strong political will are essential to speed up change and ensure that women's voices are heard in democratic decision-making. At the same time, men and women must work together as equal partners to transform political culture, challenge stereotypes, and build inclusive parliaments that reflect the people they represent," said IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong.
Despite the slow pace of change, women around the world continue to push boundaries and assert their place in political life. Removing structural barriers, including discriminatory laws, violence against women in politics, and unequal access to resources, as well as challenging negative social norms, will be critical to ensuring women's equal political leadership in the years ahead.
This year's 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women - the United Nations' highest-level intergovernmental body that sets global standards for women's rights and gender equality - is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reverse the rollback of women's rights. The future of democracy will be stronger, fairer, and more resilient when women are equally represented in decision-making at all levels.
About UN Women
UN Women exists to advance women's rights, gender equality, and the empowerment of all women and girls. As the lead United Nations entity on gender equality, we shift laws, institutions, social norms, and services to close the gender gap and build an equal world for all women and girls. We keep the rights of women and girls at the centre of global progress - always, everywhere. Because gender equality is not just what we do. It is who we are.
