Women in politics: European Parliament facts and figures
Women should play a prominent role in politics, but how do they fare at the European Parliament? Find out in our infographics.
While the European Parliament stands for gender equality, there are still fewer women than men in politics and public life at local, national and European level, as shown by recent data.
The percentage of female MEPs has increased compared to the early days of European integration. Only 31 women were members from 1952 until the first elections in 1979. In the first directly-elected European Parliament representation of women stood at 15.9%.
The share of women elected as MEPs at the European elections in June 2024 was 38.5%, a slight decrease compared to 39.8% just before the elections. In June 2025, the percentage of women in the European Parliament was 38.7%.
As far as the representation of women in the European Parliament goes, it is above the world average for national parliaments and also above the EU average for national parliaments.
Since January 2022, the European Parliament has a female President: Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola. President Metsola was re-elected for another two and a half years in July 2024.
In the 2024-2029 parliamentary term, seven of the 14 vice-presidents are women, more than in the previous term when there were six.
Steps to modernise maternity rules for MEPs
In June 2025 President Metsola outlined plans to strengthen maternity rules, for Members of the European Parliament. The planned measures, which require an update of the European Electoral Act, would allow MEPs who are on maternity to delegate their vote to another MEP.
If adopted, these reforms would make the European Parliament one of the most modern and inclusive parliaments in the world when it comes to maternity rules.
Women in other top EU jobs
In 2019, two EU institutions broke the glass ceiling and welcomed their first ever female president. Ursula von der Leyen became President of the European Commission and Christine Lagarde became President of the European Central Bank, backed by the European Parliament.
In July 2024, Parliament elected Ursula von der Leyen for a second five-year term as Commission President.
Later that year, Kaja Kallas was appointed in as High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission.
