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THE WOMEN MAYORS PROJECT Europe lacks women mayors By City Mayors Research* ON THIS PAGE: Introduction | Women mayors in Europe's regions | Women mayors in European countries ON OTHER PAGES: ON OTHER PAGES: Capital cities with women mayors | Women mayors in America | Women mayors in Europe | Europe's most powerful female mayors | South America's women mayors | Mayors, parties, politics | 2023 research: German women mayors in 2023 WORLD MAYOR 2023: The 2023 World Mayor Prize is dedicated to Friendship between Cities. The Honours will be awarded to mayors and cities that have made outstanding contributions to friendship, partnership and cooperation between towns and cities at home and across borders. PLEASE ELECT YOUR CANDIDATES January 2022: There are very few female mayors in cities across Europe. Just under 17 per cent of the continent’s largest cities have women - elected or appointed - as their leaders. In Northern Europe almost one third of mayors are female, while in Southern Europe the percentage of women as leaders of local government is below nine per cent. Norway is the only country in Europe where most of the mayors of larger towns and cities are women. In Italy and Greece, no women have been elected as heads of large cities. In addition to Norway, individual countries with an above average number of female mayors include Finland, France and Switzerland. While Berlin recently elected a woman as head of its municipal government, in Germany there are only two women in charge of larger cities. European capital cities with female mayors are Berlin, Oslo, Stockholm, Paris, Luxembourg, Amsterdam and Sofia. The majority – 40 out of 71 – of female mayors of large European cities belong to parties on the left of the political spectrum. Some 17 are members of centrist parties, while eight mayors are on the nationalist right. Six mayors describe themselves as independent or unaffiliated. Women mayors in European regions Region No. of female mayors out of No. of cities reviewed Percentage of largest cities with female mayors Countries reviewed Northern Europe 21 out of 65 32.3% Estonia, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden Eastern Europe 11 out of 75 14.7% Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Slovakia Western Europe 22 out of 120 18.3% Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Switzerland, UK Southern Europe 4 out of 45 8.9% Italy, Portugal, Spain South Eastern Europe 13 out of 115 11.3% Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey Across Europe 71 out of 420 16.9% The above Women mayors in European countries (In greater detail: Europe's most powerful female mayors) Country No of female mayors Politics Notes Albania 2 Left 1; Conservative 1 Largest 5 cities reviewed Austria 2 Communist 1; Conservative 1 Largest 15 cities reviewed Belgium 1 Left 1 Largest 15 cities reviewed Bulgaria 1 Right 1 Largest 15 cities reviewed Croatia 2 Left 1; Independent 1 Largest 15 cities reviewed Czech Republic 1 Conservative 1 Largest 15 cities reviewed Denmark 3 Left 1; Centre 1; Conservative 1 Largest 15 cities reviewed Estonia 2 Left 1; Centre 1 Largest 15 cities reviewed Finland 5 Left 1; Conservative 3; Independent 1 Largest 15 cities reviewed France 5 Left 4; Green 1 Largest 15 cities reviewed Germany 2 Left 1; Independent 1 Largest 15 cities reviewed Greece 0 n/a Largest 15 cities reviewed Hungary 2 Right 1; Independent 1 Largest 15 cities reviewed Italy 0 n/a Largest 15 cities reviewed Luxembourg 1 Centre 1 Largest 5 cities reviewed Netherlands 2 Left 2 Largest 15 cities reviewed North Macedonia 1 Independent 1 Largest 5 cities reviewed Norway 10 Left 10 Largest 15 cities reviewed Poland 2 Centre 1; Independent 1 Largest 15 cities reviewed Portugal 2 Left 2 Largest 15 cities reviewed Romania 2 Left 1; Centre 1 Largest 15 cities reviewed Russia 3 Nationalist right 3 Largest 15 cities reviewed; The review included cities in the Asian part of Russia Serbia 2 Right 2 Largest 15 cities reviewed Slovakia 3 Centre 1; Conservative 1; Independent 1 Largest 15 cities reviewed Slovenia 2 Left 1; Centre 1 Largest 15 cities reviewed Spain 2 Left 1; Conservative 1 Largest 15 cities reviewed Sweden 2 Left 1; Centre 1 Largest 5 cities reviewed Switzerland 4 Left 3; Green 1 Largest 15 cities reviewed Turkey 1 Right 1 Largest 15 cities reviewed; The review included cities in the Asian part of Turkey United Kingdom 5 Left 5 All 25 metro regions, cities and London boroughs with elected mayors reviewed * The research for Women Mayors in Europe was carried out by City Mayors during December 2021 , January and February 2022. The analysis comprised 420 cities in 30 countries. 2023 research: German women mayors in 2023 © Copyright: All content of the City Mayors, Women Mayors and World Mayor websites are protected by worldwide copyright. Please contact the editor if you wish to use any material from the City Mayors, World Mayor or Women Mayors websites. Follow @City_Mayors

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