The number of women in the world's parliaments is lagging at just under 19 percent with some in Pacific or Islamic countries counting none at all, according to a new UN study.

The United Nations had set a target for 30 percent of leadership positions to be held by women by 1995.

But in 2010 the global average of female participation in parliaments had reached 18.8 percent, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union study released ahead of International Women's Day on March 8.

"We are a far cry from this goal (30 percent)," said Rachel Mayanja, the UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Gender Issues.

"We cannot afford any further delays in action to achieve the gender equality goals, including for women's political participation," she said.

Countries that counted no women parliamentarians included Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman, as well as the Solomon Islands, Palau and Micronesia in the Pacific.

The highest proportion of women parliamentarians was in Nordic countries such as Sweden with 46.4 percent, Iceland with 42.9 percent and Finland with 40 percent.

But it was an African country -- Rwanda -- which topped the study's list with female lawmakers at 56.3 percent.

South Africa was in third place with 44.5 percent, Mozambique ninth place with 39.2 percent and Angola 10th with 38.6 percent.