Cyprus ranks among last in EU on women’s participation in parliament, government

Women held 33 per cent of seats in national parliaments in the EU in 2020, according to data released on Sunday by Eurostat, the statistical service of the EU.

Cyprus, at 22 per cent, ranks eighth from last.

According to the Eurostat data, 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 per cent) followed by Finland (46 per cent), Belgium (43 per cent) and Spain (42 per cent).

At the opposite end of the scale, the lowest shares were recorded in Hungary and Malta (both 13 per cent). Romania and Czechia follow at 20 per cent and Slovenia at 21 per cent. Greece and Cyprus at 22 per cent, rank 7th and 8th from last.

Over the past few years, the share of female members of government (senior and junior ministers) in the EU increased, from 20 per cent in 2004 to 33 per cent in 2020.

In 2020, Finland had the highest share of female members in its government (55 per cent). Cyprus, at 25 per cent, ranks again 8th from last.

According to Eurostat, 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.