Women's Share of Board Seats Declines for First Time in Over a Decade
The 50/50 Women on Boards annual report reveals that women's share of board seats dropped to 29.2% in U.S. large-cap companies, marking the first decline in over ten years.
Women now hold 29.2% of board seats in U.S. large-cap companies, a decrease from 30.1% in the previous year, according to the 2026 State of Board Leadership report by 50/50 Women on Boards. This marks the first decline in female representation on boards in more than a decade.
The findings from the annual Gender Diversity Index™ report indicate a break in the positive trend of increasing female representation that had been observed since 2011. The report analyzes board composition in the 3,000 largest U.S. public companies.
While the overall percentage has grown significantly over the past decade, the report notes trends in the types of positions women hold. Their representation has been concentrated more in non-executive roles or minority positions within boards.
50/50 Women on Boards is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the business case for gender diversity in corporate leadership. The organization's annual report serves as a key benchmark for tracking progress in this area.