The poll, conducted by Grant Thornton, an accounting firm based in Hong
Kong, covered 32 economies.
Hong Kong and Taiwan also rank high on the list, with 83 percent and 80
percent of their firms having women in senior positions.
In the Philippines, 97 percent companies have women holding senior
positions.
"The findings suggest that China businesses focus on capability and
performance when appointing senior management, and not on gender," said
Alison Wong, partner of specialist advisory services at Grant Thornton.
On average 65 percent of the companies in the world have women in
senior management positions, the survey shows. China is ahead of many
Western countries, including the US, Canada and Britain.
"Despite some people's perception about traditional gender bias in
Chinese society, it is positive to note that today three places across two shores achieve such
a high proportion of business with senior females," Wong said.
Almost all Asian countries have more businesses with women at senior
levels than the global average, except Japan, whose rate is only 25
percent.
"Obviously Japan is unique in the cultural perception about women in
business and women's role in the family as compared with other parts of
Asia, " Wong said.
The survey reflects an upward trend in the percentage of women in
management roles in most economies, but only the Philippines has achieved
true parity in male/female management.
