IWD: See the 10 African countries with the highest number of women in government
International Women’s Day(IWD) which falls on March 8 is a global day dedicated annually to celebrating the achievements of women and marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.
Even as we celebrate this day, the reality is that women and men still don’t enjoy equal rights globally, including in many African countries.
A recent report even revealed that no country in the world offers women the same opportunities as men in the workforce.
Countries are largely affected by gender inequalities in the social, economic, and political spheres.
However, it is worth noting that over the years, things have been changing, and people are starting to see women and their roles differently. More women are making their mark in boardrooms, gaining equal rights, and becoming influential role models.
As the world keeps realizing how important women are in building fair and lasting societies, some African countries are also leading the charge for gender equality in politics.
While it is still a work in progress, there have been some positive changes.
Getting more women into parliament is important to make things fair and inclusive.
Studies have shown that having more women in parliament leads to more policies that address issues affecting everyone, such as childcare, maternal health, and equal pay.
In commemoration of International Women’s Day, we looked at African countries with the highest number of women in government.
Data by the africabusinessinsider.com
| Rank | Country | % of Women in Parliament | Global rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rwanda | 61.3% | 1st |
| 2 | Senegal | 46.1% | 11th |
| 3 | South Africa | 45.8% | 14th |
| 4 | Namibia | 44.2% | 19th |
| 5 | Mozambique | 43.2% | 20th |
| 6 | Ethiopia | 41.3% | 25th |
| 7 | Cabo Verde | 38.9% | 30th |
| 8 | Angola | 38.6% | 32nd |
| 9 | Burundi | 38.2% | 36th |
| 10 | United Republic of Tanzania | 37.4% | 41st |