77% of companies in Singapore have no female independent directors

While 20% of companies in Singapore have 1 female independent, there are no companies in Singapore with 3 female independent directors.

According to the Gender Diversity in Asia Pacific study launched by Korn/Ferry, females continue to be under-represented in boards of Asia Pacific companies.

The study covered six countries in the Asia Pacific: Australia, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore.

93.6% of directors in Singapore are male. 91.3% of Executive Directors in Singapore are male. 90.1% of Non-Executive Directors and 94.8% of Independent Non-Executive Directors in Singapore are male.

The relatively higher percentage of female executive directors in Hong Kong , Malaysia and Singapore reflects the relatively higher percentage of executive directors on boards in these countries, compared to Australia and New Zealand.

The percentage of female independent directors provides a better indication of the extent to which gender diversity is formally considered by boards in their director appointment process.

59% of Singapore companies have all male boards. 30% of Singapore companies have only 1 female director, 10% have 2 female directors, 1% with 3 female directors and there are no companies in Singapore with 4 female directors.

Only 14 out of the 600 boards in the 6 countries have more than two female directors of any type.

More than 70 percent of boards in five countries – Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore – have no female independent directors.