The election of 37-year-old Paetongtarn Shinawatra is a noteworthy development in Thailand’s political landscape. Her rise to the position of Prime Minister not only highlights her family’s ongoing influence but also contributes to increased female representation at the highest levels of government. At 37, she has become the youngest and only the second woman to hold this office in the country’s history. However, despite this, women and youth remain significantly underrepresented in Thailand’s parliament, with women holding just 19.4% of seats in 2023 and younger MPs making up a small fraction of the legislature. Today’s issue of Data-Dive explores the current state of female and youth representation in light of these recent developments.

Women in Power: A Global Overview of Female Leadership in State Positions

Overall, 27 countries are led by women as of January 1, 2024, either as head of state or head of government, with a historical total of 80 countries that have been led by women in one or both of these roles. This demonstrates a notable, yet still limited, global presence of women in the highest leadership positions.

Thailand

So far, only two women have held the position of head of government in Thailand. Before Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Yingluck Shinawatra was the country’s first female Prime Minister, serving from 2011 to 2014.

Women in National Parliaments in Thailand

The data highlights a significant decline in female representation after 2013, with percentages dropping to as low as 4.8% in 2017, before gradually increasing again. By 2023, the proportion of women MPs rose to 19.4%, marking the highest representation within the decade.

Women and Youth in the House of Representatives in Thailand

The data reveals that male MPs significantly outnumber female MPs across all age groups, with 404 men and 96 women in total. The highest representation for both genders falls within the 31-40 and 51-60 age ranges, while the 25-30 age group has the smallest representation, especially among women.

Further, the data highlights that younger MPs, particularly those 30 years of age or younger, represent a small portion of the legislature, with only 6.4% overall—5.0% male and 1.4% female. The proportion increases with age, with 29.2% of MPs being 40 years of age or younger and 43.0% being 45 years of age or younger, highlighting a higher representation of younger male MPs compared to female MPs across these age groups.

Conclusion

Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s ascent highlights both the persistence of dynastic politics and the ongoing struggle for broader representation in Thailand’s parliament. While her leadership marks progress for women at the highest levels of government, the underrepresentation of women and youth in the legislature underscores the challenges that remain in making Thai politics more inclusive and diverse.