Over the past two centuries, the European region has been the seat of many international milestones for women in politics. Various countries continue to achieve new high points for women’s political participation, inspiring women throughout the world. However, there is still great disparity in women’s political participation within the region itself.

Nordic countries have long been known as bastions of women’s rights and political participation. Five of the top seven countries, ranked according to participation of women in parliament, are from the Nordic countries. Sweden’s parliament is made up of 47 percent women, and Finland’s parliament has 38 percent. In addition, Tarja Halonen was elected to serve as the first woman President of Finland in 2000. With respect to the Nordic countries, some experts are warning of potential, if not currently ongoing, stagnation. Denmark and Norway are among the most gender-balanced parliaments of the world, with 37 and 38 percent women members respectively.

In countries such as Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, women’s participation and advancement were encouraged during the Soviet era, but participation levels have since wane; the proportion of women in the Russian Duma fell from almost 14 percent from 1993–1995 to 10 percent from1995–1999 and approximately 8 percent currently. While the number of women in Russia’s regional legislatures is similarly low (9 percent from 1999–2000), they play a more prominent role in local councils and account for over 40 percent of deputies. In contrast, Belarus — also a former Communist state — has maintained a substantial women’s presence, with women representing 29 percent of national parliamentarians. This is due in large part to a quota system.

Eastern Europe has proved to be fertile ground for women in politics, partly because European integration requires standards for equality that have led to increased women’s political participation. In 2002, three countries made great strides in terms of the number of women in parliament: Moldova’s parliament is now 22 percent female, an increase of five percentage points since the last election; Poland’s parliament is 20 percent female, an increase of seven points; and Bulgaria’s increase of 15 points has resulted in women making up 22 percent of its parliament. In addition, Vaira Vike-Freiberga was elected President of Latvia in 1999. She was the first woman to head a country of the former Soviet Union.

Western Europe, traditionally one of the top regions of the world with regard to women’s suffrage and role in politics, also exhibits great disparity in women’s political participation. Britain was discussing suffrage as early as 1869. In contrast, women in Liechtenstein did not win the vote until 1984. Monaco did not allow women to vote until 1962, but it currently has over 20 percent women in parliament. San Marino, a small country in the middle of Italy, is an interesting case; although women did not win the right to stand for election until 1973 and currently represent only 11 percent of the parliament, a woman has served as head of state at least six times since 1981. Other Western European countries also boast early milestones for women heads of state. President Vigdis Finnbogadottir, for example, served Iceland from 1980¬ - 1996; Ireland sequentially elected two female Presidents since 1990 (Mary Robinson from 1990 -1997 and Mary McAleese since 1997); and Switzerland’s Federal Council has sequentially elected two women members to serve as head of state (Ruth Dreifuss from 1993 - 2002 and Micheline Calmy-Rey since 2003).

Overall, Europe continues to make great strides towards increasing women’s political participation. In addition to female heads of state in Finland, Switzerland, Latvia and Ireland, the region has recently added Angela Merkel as the Chancellor of Germany.

Countries of Europe
Albania
Andorra
Austria
Belarus[1]
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina[2]
Bulgaria
Croatia[3]
Czech Republic[4]
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany[7]
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Monaco
Montenegro[10]
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Republic of Moldova
Romania
Russian Federation[11]
San Marino
Serbia[12]
Slovakia[13]
Slovenia[14]
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia[16]
Ukraine
United Kingdom