The IPU–UN Women Women in Politics 2026 publication records representation in political leadership as at January 1, 2026. UN Women's publication page says women served as heads of state and/or government in 28 countries. That is a country count, not a count of women newly elected during the year. UN Women publication
The accompanying map distinguishes countries with women heads of state from countries with women heads of government. Some countries appear in both categories, and some leaders hold both functions. Adding those categories together without accounting for overlaps would misstate the number of countries represented.
The map reports a world average of 27.5% women in both houses of parliament combined. Its lower-or-single-house measure is 27.4%; these are different measures, not contradictory estimates. Parliamentary representation is presented separately from cabinet membership and national executive leadership. IPU–UN Women map
The Americas had the highest regional average for women in parliament at 35.6% in the combined-house measure. The map and tables provide the definitions and reference date needed to interpret regional rankings.
A January 1 snapshot is not a real-time total that automatically updates after later elections or appointments. Reporting should retain the date, office type and geographic unit of the measure. The document supports a defined picture of representation, not a claim about all political developments during 2026.
Archive note: the earlier leadership-count and election characterization was not supported by the dated snapshot.