Women were 26.2% of chairmen and members of Boards of Directors in Icelandic enterprises at the end of 2018. The proportion of women in Boards of Directors ranged from 21.3% to 22.3% between 1999 and 2006, increased to 25.5% in 2014, and has remained at approximately 26% for the past four years.
In 2018, women were 33.5% of boards of directors in enterprises with 50 or more persons employed. This is the first time the proportion of women as board members of large companies has exceeded one third. For comparison, women were 12.7% of boards of directors in 2007 and 9.5% in 1999. Recent legislation states that proportions of board members in medium and large enterprises should not be below 40% for either gender. Percentages of men vs. women as board members of smaller enterprises have shown little change over the last few years. The proportion of women as board members in enterprises of 50 or more persons employed had previously peaked at 33.2% in 2014. The proportion of women as members of boards of directors in enterprises with fewer than 50 persons employed was 25.9% in 2018.
The proportion of women as managers of enterprises in 2018 was 22.7%, following a slight but steady increase since 1999. Proportion of women as chairmen of the board was 24.1% in 2018.
Data on the number of managers, chairmen and members of Board of Directors are presented by gender and age, economic activity and size of enterprises. Since the last update, there has been additional information on the activity of enterprises in 2017. The tables for 2017 have been updated accordingly.