Economy · Public ownership
OECD report puts state-owned companies’ governance in focus
A new international comparison examines public ownership, oversight and competition.
The OECD’s 22 October report on state-owned enterprises draws on evidence from 58 member and partner economies. It estimates that about 33,800 large state-owned enterprises held $141 trillion in assets worldwide in 2024.
The organisation finds that 43% of surveyed countries have a government-wide ownership policy, while 54% require a minimum number of independent directors on company boards. These figures describe governance arrangements, rather than a ranking of individual companies.
The report highlights the need for clearer ownership responsibilities and fair competitive conditions. Its financial totals relate to 2024; they are not a valuation of the sector in October 2026.
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