Women hold 38% of the board positions in Spain's listed companies, reflecting gradual progress toward gender parity in corporate leadership, though some companies still lag behind.
In Spain, women's representation in the boards of directors of publicly traded companies has reached 38%, indicating a steady but slow advancement in achieving gender equality in corporate leadership roles. According to the XIV Report on Women in the Boards of the Ibex 35, developed by the IESE business school and communication agency Atrevia, women accounted for 37.71% of board positions and 23.59% in executive roles by the end of 2025. This marks significant growth in leadership roles for women, highlighting continuous efforts toward inclusivity in the corporate environment.
However, the report also revealed that seven companies within the Ibex 35 index did not meet the gender balance requirements set for their governing bodies, showcasing ongoing challenges in achieving equal representation. Additionally, only five companies currently maintain gender parity within their executive committees. The slow growth rate of 1.67 percentage points raises concerns regarding the pace of change, as the target set by the Parity Law aims for 40% representation.
If the current trend persists, achieving gender equality in corporate governance could be feasible by the reporting period in 2027. The findings underscore the need for continued advocacy and concerted efforts to promote gender equity in Spain's corporate landscape, reflecting broader societal shifts towards equality and inclusion in leadership roles, though significant work remains.
