This means there are fewer women in the parliament in Denmark than in the rest of the Nordics. According to data from 139 countries compiled by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (2016), Denmark ranks 21st based on the proportion of women in parliament. As of 28th November 2016, nine of the 22 ministers in the Danish government are women (40.9%, Statsministeriet 2016). The purpose of the Equal Treatment Act is to prevent discrimination based on gender (Ministry of Employment 2002), and the purpose of the Gender Equality Act is to promote equality between men and women, including equal influence and opportunities in all spheres of the society (Ministry of Social Affairs 2000).