Quantitative analysis
Women in national legislatures
- Units 4 and 5
- 5 points
- About 20 minutes
You read data in a table, graph, map or infographic, describe it and a pattern in it, draw a conclusion using a course concept, and explain what the data shows about politics. On the exam: Question 2 of 4 in the free-response section (1 hour 30 minutes for all four, 50% of your score; this question is 12.5%).
The question and its sources
Use the data to answer parts A, B, C, D, and E.
Share of Seats Held by Women in the Lower or Only Chamber of the National Legislature (%)
| Country | 2005 | 2015 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 20.3 | 23.6 | 26.5 |
| Iran | 4.1 | 3.1 | 4.9 |
| Mexico | 24.2 | 42.4 | 50.2 |
| Nigeria | 6.4 | 5.6 | 4.2 |
| Russia | 9.8 | 13.6 | 16.4 |
| United Kingdom | 19.7 | 29.4 | 40.5 |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0), indicator SG.GEN.PARL.ZS (based on Inter-Parliamentary Union data), data last updated 13 July 2026, retrieved October 2026. Values rounded to one decimal place.
Suggested time: 20 minutes
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Part (a)
1 pointUsing the data in the table, identify the country with the largest increase in the share of seats held by women from 2005 to 2025.
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Part (b)
1 pointUsing the data in the table, describe a difference in women's representation between Nigeria and Mexico from 2005 to 2025.
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Part (c)
1 pointDefine a gender quota.
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Part (d)
1 pointMexico adopted increasingly strict candidate gender quotas, and a 2014 constitutional reform required gender parity in candidacies for federal and state legislatures. Using the data in the table, draw a conclusion about the effect of these election rules.
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Part (e)
1 pointExplain why a rising share of women in China's National People's Congress might not indicate that women have gained significant influence over policymaking in China.
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