The largest percentage of women in senior management is in the Philippines, with 47%, then Russia, where women hold 42% of top positions, and Thailand, 38%, the Grant Thornton International survey said.
While the 24% figure is identical to 2007, it is however a sharp rise from 2004, when only 19% of senior-level positions were held by women. 34% of privately held businesses globally had no women in senior management.
The lowest percentage continues to be in Japan, where only 7% of senior management positions are held by women. Also low down the table are Denmark (13%) and Belgium (12%), the study showed.
"Women have become most successful in increasing their share of senior management roles in Turkey (up from 17% in 2007 to 29% in 2009) and Mexico (20% in 2007 to 31%)," the study said.
The biggest falls were in Brazil, from 42% in 2007 to 29% in 2009, and Hong Kong from 35% in 2007 to 28% in 2009.
The Grant Thornton International Business Report is an annual survey of the views of senior executives in privately held businesses all over the world. The report covers over 7,200 businesses in 36 countries.
