Portugal Surpasses Global Average in Female Political Representation

• Portugal leads in female political representation, while globally, women hold 26% of parliamentary seats.
• Women earn 80% of men's income worldwide; the report calls for gender quotas and equal pay.

Portugal surpasses the global average for female political representation, with 36% female MPs and 33% female ministers, according to the "Representation Matters" report by Oliver Wyman, the World Bank, and Women Political Leaders. Released ahead of International Women's Day, the report explores the impact of female political representation on economic development, suggesting that global GDP could increase by over 20% in the next decade if women had the same political and economic opportunities as men.

Women hold 26% of parliamentary seats and 23% of ministerial positions globally, with female representation in the European Parliament dropping to 39% in 2024. The disparity is greater in leadership, with only 27 of 193 countries led by women, and just 15 of these women having real decision-making power. If progress continues at this pace, achieving political parity worldwide will take over 40 years.

Women earn an average of 80% of men's income and have fewer legal rights. In Portugal, women earned 242 euros less per month than men in 2024, a 71.63% increase in the gender pay gap since 2014, according to Randstad Research.

In 2024, Portugal saw a 25.2 percentage point increase in women in management, reaching 34.7%, matching the European average. The country's Gender Equality Index was 68.6 points, ranking 15th in the EU, 2.4 points below the average.

The "Representation Matters" report highlights inequality of opportunity and a lack of legal protections as barriers to women's political advancement. To address these disparities, it recommends gender quotas in parliaments, anti-harassment laws, and measures against political gender-based violence.

The report stresses the importance of equal pay, enhanced maternity/paternity rights, and accessible child support services to improve women's labor market access. It highlights that women’s representation in decision-making is vital for sustainable development, a stronger global economy, and building more just, equitable societies.