Two years have passed since the revision of the G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance. Since then, the corporate governance landscape has evolved rapidly as a result of shifting macroeconomic conditions and geopolitical risks, as well as complex challenges related to sustainability and digitalisation.
In response, policy makers and regulators have undertaken important efforts to ensure that their regulatory frameworks remain effective and resilient. At a time of uncertainty and disruption, a common understanding of sound corporate governance grounded in a globally recognised standard like the G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance is more essential than ever to build trust in capital markets and support their resilience.
The OECD Corporate Governance Factbook provides an up-to-date overview of legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks across 52 jurisdictions. Published every two years since 2015, the Factbook serves as a key reference on how jurisdictions have implemented the G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance, while also tracking major evolutions in corporate governance over the past decade.
Strong corporate governance plays a major role in supporting market confidence, financial stability and long-term value creation. Given that business operations and financial flows are increasingly global and that companies face a growing array of risks, comprehensive, comparable and reliable data can help policy makers and regulators to navigate this increasingly complex environment. The Factbook and new Country Notes aim to provide just that.
The 2025 edition highlights progress in corporate governance in a number of areas. For example, with institutional investors now owning nearly half of all listed equity, nearly all Factbook jurisdictions have established provisions to address their potential conflicts of interest (98%) and the disclosure of their voting policies (88%), an increase of about one-third over the past decade. Jurisdictions have also made strides in sustainability reporting. Ninety percent now require listed companies to disclose sustainability-related information, while 60% have established requirements for sustainability assurance. Shareholder participation in general meetings has also been facilitated, with a growing number of jurisdictions allowing virtual-only shareholder meetings (85%), and even more accepting hybrid meetings (94%). This may improve shareholder engagement and the protection of their rights.
By offering comparable information across jurisdictions, the Factbook also contributes to a shared understanding of good corporate governance practices worldwide. It reflects the continued commitment of the OECD and its Corporate Governance Committee to fostering transparent and resilient capital markets, and to supporting the implementation of the G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance as a driver of economic growth and financial stability.
Jean-Paul Servais
Chair, OECD Corporate Governance Committee