IPU
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is a Geneva-based intergovernmental organization founded in 1889 that convenes 183 national parliaments to promote peace, democracy, and sustainable development through data, standards, and parliamentary diplomacy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1889
- HeadquartersLe Grand-saconnex, Switzerland
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What IPU does
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the world's oldest political multilateral organization, founded in 1889 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland (with additional offices in New York and Vienna). It serves as the global convener of national parliaments, with 183 Member Parliaments and 15 Associate Members representing 269 chambers and roughly 44,000 MPs worldwide. Its functional mandate is to facilitate parliamentary diplomacy that promotes peace, democracy, and sustainable development.
IPU's core product surface is built on data assets, standards, and convening power rather than commercial technology. Key offerings include Parline, the global parliamentary database covering structures, gender parity, and human rights data since 1889; biannual IPU Assemblies and standing committees on democracy, peace, sustainable development, and trade; the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (handling 841 active MP rights cases); the Forum of Women Parliamentarians and Forum of Young Parliamentarians; and toolkits such as the 2025 Maturity Framework for AI in Parliaments and the SDG Self-Assessment Toolkit. Supporting assets include the IPU Innovation Tracker bulletin, IPU on air podcast series, and co-published databases on climate change laws (with LSE) and gender electoral quotas (with International IDEA and Stockholm University).
IPU is a non-profit intergovernmental organization funded primarily by assessed member contributions from national parliaments, supplemented by donor funding from governments, UN bodies, and foundations. It is governed by the Governing Council, Executive Committee, and Assembly, with the Secretary General as chief executive; the organization has no commercial pricing model and distributes its services directly to member parliaments through Assemblies, the Parline data portal, and its permanent UN observer offices in New York and Vienna.
IPU firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- IPU
- Legal name
- Inter-Parliamentary Union
- Website
- https://ipu.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1889
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is a Geneva-based intergovernmental organization founded in 1889 that convenes 183 national parliaments to promote peace, democracy, and sustainable development through data, standards, and parliamentary diplomacy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
IPU industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Intergovernmental Parliamentary Organization
- NAICS
- Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921), International Affairs (92812), Legislative Bodies (921120), National Security and International Affairs (928)
- SIC
- International Affairs (9721), Foreign Governments (8888)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Multilateral Diplomacy & International Representation (UN, Regional Bodies) (BPAIAIAC)
Keywords
Where IPU is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Le Grand-saconnex
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
IPU business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Member contributions: The IPU is financed primarily by its Members out of public funds. Member parliaments pay assessed contributions to fund the organization's operations, assemblies, and programs.
- Donor funding: The IPU receives growing income from donors including governments, development agencies, UN bodies, and foundations. This includes project-specific funding for programs on climate, gender equality, AI governance, and other thematic areas.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
IPU product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The IPU is a global intergovernmental organization that facilitates parliamentary diplomacy by convening 183 national parliaments through biannual Assemblies, standing committees, and thematic forums. It provides data (Parline database on parliamentary structures, gender parity, and youth participation), standards and guidelines on democracy and human rights, and capacity-building tools such as the AI Maturity Framework and self-assessment toolkits to its member parliaments and parliamentarians worldwide.
Product overview
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is a membership-based global organization offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services centered on parliamentary development, democracy promotion, and global data. Core offerings include Parline Data (a global parliamentary database), IPU Assemblies (biannual global forums), the Committee on Human Rights of Parliamentarians (defending MP rights), and thematic Forums for Women and Young Parliamentarians. Supporting products include the IPU Innovation Tracker (quarterly bulletin), IPU on air podcast series, and climate/gender databases through partnerships with LSE and International IDEA. IPU also provides specialized toolkits including the Maturity Framework for AI in Parliaments, SDG Self-Assessment Toolkit, and gender-sensitivity evaluation tools. The organization focuses on empowering parliaments rather than selling a single product, offering these services primarily to member national parliaments and parliamentarians worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 841 human rights cases of MPs currently being addressed by the IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use IPU
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
IPU technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature4 records
IPU partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- United Nations (multiple bodies and agencies)coreThe IPU has held Permanent Observer Status with the UN since 2002. Through offices in Geneva, New York, and Vienna, the IPU works with UN bodies including the UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women, the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Climate Change framework, and the Human Rights Council. The IPU brings a parliamentary voice to UN mechanisms including the Paris Agreement, High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, and the UN General Assembly.
- London School of Economics (LSE) - Climate Change Laws of the World databaseminorThe IPU is a partner of the LSE's database of climate change legislation, which tracks over 7,000 climate change laws worldwide.
- World Health Organization (WHO)coreThe IPU and WHO co-organize parliamentary meetings at the World Health Assembly and collaborate on health equity, sexual and reproductive health rights, universal health coverage, and pandemic preparedness. WHO participated in the 151st IPU Assembly in October 2025.
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)coreThe IPU and UNDP jointly produce the Global Parliamentary Report, which analyses major issues affecting parliamentary practice globally. UNDP also partners with IPU on parliamentary strengthening programs.
- Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)coreThe IPU and CPA co-organized parliamentary sessions during Geneva AI Governance Week in July 2026, ensuring parliaments are represented in international AI governance discussions.
- InterpeaceminorThe IPU works with Interpeace on peacebuilding and conflict prevention initiatives, supporting parliamentary engagement in peace processes.
- Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (PNND)minorThe IPU works with PNND on disarmament and non-proliferation advocacy, promoting nuclear-weapons-free world objectives.
- International IDEA and Stockholm UniversityminorThe IPU partners with International IDEA and Stockholm University in running a global database on gender electoral quotas, providing country-specific data on mechanisms to ensure women's parliamentary participation.
- UN WomencoreThe IPU and UN Women jointly publish the Women in Politics map, presenting global rankings for women in executive and government positions. The organizations also collaborate on gender equality programming.
- Parliament of KenyaminorThe IPU and Parliament of Kenya co-organized the Regional Seminar: African Parliaments for Climate Action (May 2026) on reducing methane emissions.
- Parliament of SwitzerlandminorThe IPU's headquarters is hosted by the Parliament of Switzerland in Geneva, and Switzerland leads the Twelve Plus Group within the IPU structure.
- Parliament of MongoliaminorThe IPU conducted workshops on gender equality with the Parliament of Mongolia, providing capacity building on gender-sensitive parliament practices.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
IPU competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA): The CPA is an association of national parliaments from Commonwealth countries, directly comparable to IPU as a parliamentary diplomacy and capacity-building organization. The two already co-organize sessions on AI governance, indicating close functional overlap.
- International IDEA: International IDEA is an intergovernmental organization focused on democratic institution-building, with which IPU co-runs the global gender electoral quotas database. It is a direct peer in democracy support and parliamentary strengthening.
Broad incumbents
- NATO Parliamentary Assembly: A larger, established inter-parliamentary body focused on Euro-Atlantic security, comparable in its convening model of national legislators for diplomacy and oversight. It is broader in geographic scope but narrower in thematic remit than IPU.
- OSCE Parliamentary Assembly: The parliamentary dimension of the OSCE brings together legislators from 57 participating states for diplomacy on security, human rights, and democracy, overlapping with IPU's mandate on peace, security, and human rights of parliamentarians.
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): A core UN agency working on democratic governance, with which IPU co-produces the Global Parliamentary Report and runs parliamentary strengthening programs. UNDP is a broad incumbent in development that overlaps with IPU's mandate on democratic institutions.
Regional players
- Pan-African Parliament: The legislative organ of the African Union, representing MPs from all 55 AU member states. Comparable as a regional inter-parliamentary institution that IPU works alongside in capacity building and standards setting in Africa.
- ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA): The regional parliamentary body of ASEAN, comparable in structure and function to IPU but focused on Southeast Asia. IPU engages with AIPA as a regional partner within its Asia-Pacific Group.
Emerging players
- Interpeace: An international organization supporting peacebuilding and conflict prevention, working with the IPU on parliamentary engagement in peace processes. Comparable as a thematic peer in peace and security, though focused on operational peacebuilding rather than parliamentary convening.
- Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (PNND): A cross-party network of legislators working on nuclear disarmament. It is a thematic peer of IPU's work on non-proliferation, with which IPU partners in advocacy and education.
- Global Parliament of Mayors: A governance network of city leaders that, like IPU, applies a parliamentary model to international cooperation. It is comparable in concept (elected representatives convening across borders) but at sub-national scale and city-government level.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
IPU social profiles
Digital presenceIPU financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
IPU leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
IPU funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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IPU M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about IPU
What does IPU do?
The IPU is a global intergovernmental organization that facilitates parliamentary diplomacy by convening 183 national parliaments through biannual Assemblies, standing committees, and thematic forums. It provides data (Parline database on parliamentary structures, gender parity, and youth participation), standards and guidelines on democracy and human rights, and capacity-building tools such as the AI Maturity Framework and self-assessment toolkits to its member parliaments and parliamentarians worldwide.
Is IPU a public or private company?
IPU is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was IPU founded?
IPU was founded in 1889. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is IPU based?
IPU is headquartered in Le Grand-saconnex, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does IPU make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Member contributions are the primary driver. The others are donor funding.
Who are IPU's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and International IDEA. Broad incumbents are NATO Parliamentary Assembly, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Regional players are Pan-African Parliament and ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA). Emerging players are Interpeace, Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (PNND) and Global Parliament of Mayors.
Does IPU have an API?
No public API is recorded for IPU.
What industry is IPU in?
IPU's product category is Intergovernmental Parliamentary Organization. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAIAC, Multilateral Diplomacy & International Representation (UN, Regional Bodies). Its NAICS code is 921 and its SIC code is 9721.