Share of female directors (% of total directors) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Share of female directors (% of total directors) was 12.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Share of female directors in Saudi Arabia, 2015–2023
Source: World Bank's Entrepreneurship Survey and database (https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/entrepreneurship). Downloaded on May 2, 2026. Measured in % of total directors.
Analysis
In 2023, share of female directors in Saudi Arabia stood at 12.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.5% on the previous year and up 86.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of female directors in Saudi Arabia peaked at 12.3% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 6.6%, in 2015.
Saudi Arabia ranks 63rd of 71 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Share of female directors (% of total directors) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of total directors | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 6.6% | — |
| 2016 | 7.6% | +14.9% |
| 2017 | 8.2% | +8.3% |
| 2018 | 8.6% | +5.1% |
| 2019 | 9.3% | +8.3% |
| 2020 | 9.7% | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 12.3% | +26.8% |
| 2022 | 11.8% | -3.6% |
| 2023 | 12.3% | +3.5% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 12.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 23.8%, 52% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 12.3% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 12.3%, 1.0× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 8.0% | 6.6% | 9.3% | 5 |
| 2020s | 11.5% | 9.7% | 12.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More private sector data for Saudi Arabia
- Merchandise trade 44.2% (2025)
- Food imports 12.3% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 72.1% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 254.06 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 122.08 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 2.2% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 16.7% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 310.67 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 66.92 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 8,403 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of female directors in Saudi Arabia?
- Share of female directors in Saudi Arabia was 12.3% in 2023, according to World Bank's Entrepreneurship Survey and database (https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/entrepreneurship). Downloaded on May 2, 2026.
- What is the highest share of female directors recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 12.3% in 2021.
- What is the lowest share of female directors recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.6% in 2015.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for share of female directors?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 63rd out of 71 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of female directors rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 86.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank's Entrepreneurship Survey and database (https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/entrepreneurship). Downloaded on May 2, 2026, published as part of Share of female directors (% of total directors). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of female directors is the proportion of female directors of newly registered limited liability companies out of the total number of directors of newly registered limited liability companies in the economy in the calendar year. A director is defined as an individual who conducts the affairs of newly registered limited liability companies in the calendar year.