One year of world elections has changed little for women's representation

Historic year 2024 for the number of elections held worldwide. In twelve months, more than half of the world's population, around 4 billion people, went to the polls in 76 nations, including eight of the world's ten most populous countries: Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Russia and the United States. Less historic was the result for women, who saw their percentage of political representation remain essentially stable, remaining 'critically low' in 2024, according to Un Women. The year that is about to end will be filed in databases as the one that saw the slowest rate of growth in women's representation in 20 years. In almost two-thirds of a panel of 46 countries around the world that went to the polls, women elected even decreased, according to the BBC. These include the United States, Portugal, Pakistan, India, Indonesia and South Africa. And for the first time in its history, the European Parliament also saw the percentage of women among newly elected representatives fall.

In 2024, only five women were elected as heads of state out of 31 presidential elections worldwide: in Iceland, the Republic of Moldova, Mexico, Namibia and North Macedonia. For the last three this is the first time in the country's history. The real missed opportunity was once again the presidency of the United States, with Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, who failed to get the better of Donald Trump. This is the second time the newly elected US president has beaten a woman. In 2016 she had got the better of Hilary Clinton. According to the Council on Foreign Relations' Women's Power Index, which ranks countries according to "progress towards gender equality in political participation", the US is ranked 69th among the 193 member states of the United Nations.

Probably a woman at the head of one of the world's largest economies would have profoundly changed the political reading of the results of this 2024. But the small number of newly elected prime ministers is consistent with the global figures. Looking at the countries of the United Nations, 60%, or 115 nations, have never had a woman head of state in their history. Only 78 have had female prime ministers and of these 49 only once, 18 twice, 9 three times and only two (Iceland and Finland) four times.

On the first of January this year, there were 27 women leading a country, whether heads of state or government. A number that has risen to 29 twelve months later, demonstrating the slow pace of change globally.

To reach a position as president or premier in a state goes through a political career that shapes one's political career in decisive roles. The natural reservoir from which new and new leaders are drawn is the pool of those who in their political careers have held positions as party leaders or have led important ministries. Judging by the 'pipeline', as it would be called in business, change is yet to come. Globally, only 23.3 per cent of cabinet members heading ministries are women, marking a slight increase of half a percentage point over the previous year. Female representation is highest in Europe and North Africa, where it reaches 32.5%, while the lowest levels are in Central and South Asia, with only 9.5%.