Women held 33% of seats in national parliaments in the EU in 2020, according  to data released today by Eurostat, the statistical service of the EU. This share has been rising since 2004, when women accounted for around one-fifth (21%) of members in national parliaments.

While the share of seats held by women in national parliaments varies considerably between EU countries, no EU country had more women than men holding seats in parliament.

In 2020, the highest share of female members in national parliaments was recorded in Sweden, where women accounted for almost a half of parliamentarians (close to 50%), ahead of Finland (46%), Belgium (43%) and Spain (both 42%).

At the opposite end of the scale, the lowest shares were recorded in Hungary and Malta (both 13%). Romania and Czechia follow at 20% and then Slovenia at 21%. Then Greece and Cyprus at 22%, ranking 7th and 8th from the bottom.

Meanwhile, over the past years, the share of female members of government (senior and junior ministers) in the EU increased as well, from 20% in 2004 to 33% in 2020.

In 2020, Finland had the highest share of female members in its government (55%). Finland was followed by Austria (53%), Sweden (52%), France (51%) and Belgium (50%). In contrast, the lowest shares were recorded in Malta (8%), Greece (11%) and Estonia (13%). In Cyprus this rate is 25% ranking 8th lowest.

The number of female presidents and prime ministers in the EU also rose since 2004. Today, four out of 27 heads of government are women, whereas there were none in 2004. Over this period, there were never more than four female presidents or prime ministers at the same time.