In the legislative branch, the current global average of women in national parliaments is 20 per cent. While this achievement marks a first in history, the climb has been slow, revealing a global average increase of less than 1 per cent per year. Only 33 countries out of 149 have national parliaments where women constitute 30 per cent or more of the members. With parity as the ultimate measure of equality, then a mere two countries have reached this point. Furthermore, there are wide divergences among States, with women accounting for less than 10 per cent of representatives in 45 States.