Rwanda has the highest proportion of female representatives at 56%, with a legal requirement for 30% of its House of Representatives to be women. Some countries have gender-based laws or voluntary quotas, while others have no female legislators.
Women hold about 20% of seats in parliaments and legislatures worldwide. Rwanda has the highest proportion of female representatives — 56% as of 2012. In fact, Rwandan law requires 30% of its members of the House of Representatives to be women. Several countries, including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the Federated States of Micronesia, do not have female legislators. Yemen has a female legislator.
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In the US, as of 2012, Colorado has the most female representatives – 40% – South Carolina has the lowest – less than 10%.
Some countries have gender-based laws that reserve a specific percentage of seats in their parliaments or legislatures. Other countries do not legally mandate that women hold a certain number of seats, but their political parties may self-impose quotas.
At least 40 countries (less than 20% of all countries) have legally established some kind of gender quota system in their legislation. Political parties in at least 50 countries have established a voluntary system.
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