The line graph illustrates the proportions of female members of parliament in several countries including Germany, Spain, Belgium, UK, and Italy between 2000 and 2012. Units are given in percentages.
Overall, the proportion of female parliament members increased in all five countries over the period. Belgium recorded the highest figures by the end of the timeframe, while Italy remained the lowest, despite experiencing the most dramatic growth.
Focusing on the highest rates, Belgium, Spain, and Germany were commenced similar to each other, at around 24%, 28%, and just over 30% respectively. Over the ensuing quarter decade due to the increase in the Spain and Belgium they surpassed Germany, whose rate remained stable. From this moment till 2008 all three countries showed consistency not experiencing any significant changes.
The only varying of rate in the last four years belonged to Belgium which eventually overtook Spain, which was still slightly ahead of Germany. Turning to the lowest figures, the UK and Italy were far apart initially, at about 18% and just over 0% respectively. The first significant change took place in 2004, before which both countries had remained stable. During the period from 2004 to 2008 Italy experienced dramatic increase, even surpassing its counterpart. In the last quarter decade fluctuation of Italy was continuing by its slight decrease, the reverse is true for the UK, resulting in both countries ending at similar levels.