- ImpactWe help parliaments to become greener and to implement the Paris agreement.We support democracy by strengthening parliamentsWe work to increase women’s representation in parliament and empower women MPs.We defend the human rights of parliamentarians and help them uphold the rights of all.We help parliaments fight terrorism, cyber warfare and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.We encourage youth participation in parliaments and empower young MPs.We support parliaments in implementing the SDGs with a particular focus on health and climate change.
- Parliaments
Nearly every country in the world has some form of parliament. Parliamentary systems fall into two categories: bicameral and unicameral. Out of 190 national parliaments in the world, 78 are bicameral (156 chambers) and 112 are unicameral, making a total of 268 chambers of parliament with some 44,000 members of parliament. IPU membership is made up of 180 national parliamentsFind a national parliament
The Swiss National Council © The Swiss Parliament
We help strengthen parliaments to make them more representative and effective. - Knowledge
Discover the IPU's resources
Our library of essential resources for parliamentsGlobal data for and about national parliamentsLatest data and reports about women in parliamentResolutions, declarations and outcomes adopted by IPU MembersRecent innovations in the way parliaments workThe latest climate change legislation from the London School of Economics' databaseIPU on air- Conversations about parliamentary action
Case studies
01/06/2022
After eight years of interruption involving several military coups, the Parliament of Fiji was re-established under a new Constitution in 2014. Following substantial voter turnout, the new parliament recognized from the outset the importance of engaging with the community to
Case studies
01/06/2022
The Parliament of Brazil consistently ranks at the very top in terms of digital maturity. The Chamber of Deputies is noted for its world-leading HackerLab, its innovative use of artificial intelligence (AI), and its rapid and agile deployment of the
Voices and videos
01/06/2022
Watch 133 years of IPU's history in (just over) 133 seconds. How did the IPU grow from a handful of parliamentarians from 9 countries who met for the first time on 30 June 1889 to become the global organization of
Press releases
25/05/2022
IPU and UNDP publish third edition of the Global Parliamentary Report based on two years of research and contributions from over 70 parliaments.
Case studies
23/05/2022
Since 2012, Mali has been experiencing a period of instability and conflict, due to the occupation of the north of the country by armed groups, numerous terrorist attacks and inter-community violence. In addition, in August 2020, following the overthrow of
News in brief
19/05/2022
As the international organization of parliaments, the IPU is committed to strengthening the relationship between the elected and the electors. The Global Parliamentary Report 2022, published jointly by the IPU and UNDP, focuses on improving that relationship through better engagement