Share of female candidates in parliamentary elections in Iceland 1974-2021

In the latest parliamentary election in Iceland, which took place in 2021, 47.2 percent of the candidates were female. In general, the share of female candidates in parliamentary elections in Iceland increased from 1974 to 1995, reaching over 50 percent that year. However, it has fluctuated more since, from 40.2 percent in 1999 to 47.2 percent in 2007 and 2021. Furthermore, the share of women in the parliament reached 47.6 percent both in 2016 and 2021, but has never been above 50 percent.

Female politicians in other Nordic countries

Compared to the other Nordic countries, Iceland had the highest share of female candidates in the most recent parliamentary elections. Sweden and Finland came close to the same share of female candidates as Iceland, whereas Denmark had the lowest share of female candidates of the Nordic countries with less than 35 percent. Norway, on their side, had just below 40 percent of candidates who were women in their most recent election.

The highest share of the candidates were professionals

When it comes to the occupational status of the parliamentary election candidates in Iceland in 2021, the most common background was professionals, both among men and women. Senior officials and managers made up the second largest group, whereas 11 percent of the female candidates were not in the labor market.