Women remain underrepresented in ambassadorship positions across the world. In 2023, only 20.54% of all ambassadors are women. Our data shows that 80 countries have a percentage share of women ambassadors that is above the world average. The rest, or 89 states, fall below the average.

Europe has the highest average of women ambassadors and permanent representatives, with 28% of their representatives being women. The Oceania region (New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea) come second, with an average 26.38% of all their ambassadors being women. In the Americas, the countries of North America, Latin America and the Caribbean’s average share of women ambassadors stands at 25%. Africa (excluding MENA), Asia and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region fall below the world average of 20.54%, with 18%, 12% and 10% of their respective ambassadors being women.

For the countries of the G20, their average share of women ambassadors increased to 21% in 2023, compared to 17% in 2018. When looking at a larger dataset of 40 countries that we have been tracking since 2021, the average share of women ambassadors increased by 1% since 2022 and stands at 23% in 2023, indicating a slow rise in the number of women in top diplomatic posts.