Management positions in Sweden and Latvia show a greater proportion of female leadership compared to other nations.
In a recent report, the representation of women in senior corporate positions and political roles across Europe has shown a gradual increase since 2014, although the progress varies by country.
According to the data, women held 34.8% of managerial positions in the European Union (EU) in 2023, a growth of 3.1 percentage points since 2014. Notably, France stands out as having the highest share of female board members in 2024, with 45% women in senior corporate positions[1].
Other countries have also shown steady rises in women's board representation during this period. However, specific percentage changes by country from 2014 to 2024 are not detailed in the summarized search results.
Sweden, after France, has the largest share of women in managerial positions in the EU, with 43.7% in 2023. The country has also reported an increase of 6.5 percentage points (pp) in the share of female managers since 2014[1].
Twenty countries in the EU have seen an increase in the share of women in managerial positions. Malta has reported an impressive increase of 8.3 percentage points (pp) in the share of women in managerial positions[1].
However, some countries have seen a decrease in the representation of women in senior positions. Latvia has reported a decrease of 1.7 percentage points (pp) in the share of female managers, and Lithuania has seen a decrease of 1.7 pp as well[1]. Hungary and Slovenia have also reported a decrease of 2.6 pp in the share of female managers[1].
In political senior positions, such as parliamentary representation in the UK (part of Europe), women’s representation has grown steadily from below 5% in 1987 to 40% by 2024 in the House of Commons[2].
No detailed data or trends for senior positions outside corporate boards or politics, or for broader senior roles across all European countries, were available in the current search results.
The report also highlights that no specific European countries with declines in women's representation in senior roles were mentioned in the data. Further detailed country-by-country analysis would be needed from dedicated gender diversity reports or Eurostat updates.
Key points:
- Women's representation in senior corporate positions and political roles has generally increased in Europe since 2014.
- France has the highest share of female board members in 2024, with 45%.
- Sweden has the largest share of women in managerial positions in the EU, with 43.7% in 2023.
- Twenty countries in the EU have seen an increase in the share of women in managerial positions.
- Some countries, such as Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, and Slovenia, have seen a decrease in the representation of women in senior positions.
- Women's representation in the House of Commons in the UK has grown steadily from below 5% in 1987 to 40% by 2024.
- No sufficient data about the largest decreases or countries with declining women representation in senior roles were found.
- The science of gender diversity in Europe shows that women's representation in health-and-wellness industries, such as women's health, may also see growth, given the trends in senior corporate positions and political roles.
- As diversity and inclusion become more prioritized in European finance, it will be crucial to ensure equal opportunities for women in managerial positions, considering the increasing representation in various sectors.
- In the business realm, the focus on women's empowerment can lead to innovations in health-and-wellness industries, particularly in women's health, as more women occupy senior positions, driving progress and addressing longstanding gender disparities.
