Key Takeaways
- In 2022, women made up 33% of university presidents in the US, an increase from 28% in 2016
- Women presidents at US colleges and universities reached 30% in 2023, up from 26% in 2016
- Female deans in US medical schools increased to 18% in 2023 from 12% in 2015
- Women accounted for 28.1% of S&P 500 board seats in 2023, a record high compared to 24.0% in 2020
- In Europe, women held 37.2% of board seats in major companies by 2023 under EU quotas
- Globally, only 13.1% of board chairs in FTSE 100 companies were women in 2023
- In 2023, women held 10.4% of CEO positions among the Fortune 500 companies, up from 8.8% in 2022
- Among Russell 3000 companies, women held 52% of new board appointments in 2023
- In 2023, female CEOs in the S&P 500 increased to 9.9%, with notable rises in tech sectors
- Women led 22% of the largest 100 nonprofits in the US in 2023, focusing on health and education sectors
- Women led 19% of the top 100 US nonprofits by revenue in 2023
- In global NGOs, women hold 31% of executive director positions in 2023
- As of 2024, women represent 27% of all members of parliament globally, with significant variation by region
- In 2024, 26 countries have women as heads of state or government, representing 13% of all countries
- Women comprise 24.3% of national parliament seats worldwide as of January 2024
Across universities, boards, and top roles, women’s representation has risen steadily, reaching record highs in 2023 and 2024.
Academic Leadership
Academic Leadership Interpretation
Board Representation
Board Representation Interpretation
Corporate Leadership
Corporate Leadership Interpretation
Non-Profit Leadership
Non-Profit Leadership Interpretation
Political Leadership
Political Leadership 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.
Megan Gallagher. (2026, February 13). Women In Leadership Positions Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/women-in-leadership-positions-statistics
Megan Gallagher. "Women In Leadership Positions Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/women-in-leadership-positions-statistics.
Megan Gallagher. 2026. "Women In Leadership Positions Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/women-in-leadership-positions-statistics.
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