Key Takeaways
- In 2023, women held only 10.6% of CEO positions in Fortune 500 companies
- Women CEOs in S&P 500 companies dropped to 8.8% in 2023 from 10.6% in 2022
- Only 8% of Fortune 500 CEOs were women as of June 2023
- In 2023, executive women earned 84 cents for every dollar men earned in C-suite roles
- Gender pay gap for female CEOs: 7% less than male counterparts in 2022
- Women in top executive pay brackets (<$1M): 15% less likely promoted
- Promotion rates for women to manager: 87 per 100 men in 2023
- Women promoted to senior manager: 75 promotions per 100 men
- Time to first promotion for women: 12% longer than men
- Women board members in Fortune 500: 33.4% in 2023
- Women on S&P 500 boards: 35% average in 2023
- Female chairs of boards: 6% in FTSE 100 2023
- In auto suppliers, women board seats: 18% 2023
- Tech startups: women founders 2% of unicorns 2023
- Wall Street MD women: 17% in bulge bracket banks 2023
Women hold alarmingly few top roles, facing persistent promotion and pay gaps.
Board Positions
Board Positions Interpretation
Executive Representation
Executive Representation Interpretation
Industry-Specific
Industry-Specific Interpretation
Pay and Compensation
Pay and Compensation Interpretation
Promotion and Advancement
Promotion and Advancement Interpretation
How We Rate Confidence
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
Aisha Okonkwo. (2026, February 13). Glass Ceiling Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/glass-ceiling-statistics
Aisha Okonkwo. "Glass Ceiling Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/glass-ceiling-statistics.
Aisha Okonkwo. 2026. "Glass Ceiling Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/glass-ceiling-statistics.
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