Since 1990, the employment rate of women in the United States has stayed more or less steady, reaching a peak of 57.5 percent in 2000. In 1990, the female employment rate was 54.3 percent, and in 2024, the employment rate was 55.2. Women in the workforce There have historically been fewer women than men in the workforce. Additionally, women face many hurdles to equal treatment when they are employed, such as wage discrepancies, sexual harassment, and being expected to carry out the majority of household and family related tasks even while working full-time. Women have historically been the primary caregivers and homemakers through many cultures worldwide. Despite this, the number of women joining the workforce has increased globally. Women in history faced the additional barrier of not being able to attend university, which barred them from gaining an education and access to professional job. However, as our cultures have modernized, women have been granted equal access to university in many societies. In 2014 in the United States, the number of university degrees awarded to women exceeded that of men for the first time. In 2021, 39.1 percent of women had completed at least four years of university compared to 36.6 percent of men. Despite this, the unemployment rate of women in the United States has fluctuated significantly since 1990. In 2021, Nebraska was the state with the highest percentage of women participating in the civilian labor force, second to the District of Columbia. The wage gap Today, the wage gap is still a problem for women, although improvements have been made. There is no state in the U.S. where women earn more than men, but women in Vermont had the smallest wage gap to men in 2021. Additionally, there are no occupations in which women out-earn men, even in occupations that traditionally employ more women. A more detailed look at wage inequality in the United States can be found here.

Graph and download economic data for Labor Force Participation Rate - Women (LNS11300002) from Jan 1948 to May 2025 about females, participation, 16 years +, labor force, labor, household survey, rate, and USA.

The statistic shows the top 50 metropolitan areas of the United States with the highest share of the female population in 2019. In 2019, Jackson in Missouri ranked first with 52.3 percent of residents being women.

In the 119th Congress, 28 percent of congressional representatives were women, an increase from six percent of members in 1991. The biggest increases in female representation were seen between 2018 and 2019, as well as 2020 and 2021.

This comprehensive report chronicles the history of women in the military and as Veterans, profiles the characteristics of women Veterans in 2009, illustrates how women Veterans in 2009 utilized some of the major benefits and services offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and discusses the future of women Veterans in relation to VA. The goal of this report is to gain an understanding of who our women Veterans are, how their military service affects their post-military lives, and how they can be better served based on these insights.

United States US: Population: Female: Ages 60-64: % of Female Population data was reported at 6.224 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 6.143 % for 2016. United States US: Population: Female: Ages 60-64: % of Female Population data is updated yearly, averaging 4.552 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.224 % in 2017 and a record low of 3.843 % in 1997. United States US: Population: Female: Ages 60-64: % of Female Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 60 to 64 as a percentage of the total female population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the population of United States by gender across 18 age groups. It lists the male and female population in each age group along with the gender ratio for United States. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population distribution of United States by gender and age. For example, using this dataset, we can identify the largest age group for both Men and Women in United States. Additionally, it can be used to see how the gender ratio changes from birth to senior most age group and male to female ratio across each age group for United States.

Key observations

Largest age group (population): Male # 30-34 years (11.65 million) | Female # 30-34 years (11.41 million). Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Age groups:

• Under 5 years
• 5 to 9 years
• 10 to 14 years
• 15 to 19 years
• 20 to 24 years
• 25 to 29 years
• 30 to 34 years
• 35 to 39 years
• 40 to 44 years
• 45 to 49 years
• 50 to 54 years
• 55 to 59 years
• 60 to 64 years
• 65 to 69 years
• 70 to 74 years
• 75 to 79 years
• 80 to 84 years
• 85 years and over

Scope of gender :

Please note that American Community Survey asks a question about the respondents current sex, but not about gender, sexual orientation, or sex at birth. The question is intended to capture data for biological sex, not gender. Respondents are supposed to respond with the answer as either of Male or Female. Our research and this dataset mirrors the data reported as Male and Female for gender distribution analysis.

Variables / Data Columns

• Age Group: This column displays the age group for the United States population analysis. Total expected values are 18 and are define above in the age groups section.
• Population (Male): The male population in the United States is shown in the following column.
• Population (Female): The female population in the United States is shown in the following column.
• Gender Ratio: Also known as the sex ratio, this column displays the number of males per 100 females in United States for each age group.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for United States Population by Gender. You can refer the same here

The average for 2023 based on 24 countries was 50.82 percent. The highest value was in Puerto Rico: 52.88 percent and the lowest value was in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: 49.01 percent. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

United States US: Population: Female: Ages 10-14: % of Female Population data was reported at 6.249 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6.258 % for 2016. United States US: Population: Female: Ages 10-14: % of Female Population data is updated yearly, averaging 7.054 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.665 % in 1969 and a record low of 6.249 % in 2017. United States US: Population: Female: Ages 10-14: % of Female Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 10 to 14 as a percentage of the total female population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;

In 2023, about 75.54 million women were employed in the United States. This is an increase from the previous year, when 74.09 million women were employed, and just about a return to pre-pandemic levels.

The average for 2023 based on 12 countries was 50.47 percent. The highest value was in Uruguay: 51.51 percent and the lowest value was in Paraguay: 49.85 percent. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

United States US: Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 15-64 data was reported at 64.768 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 65.038 % for 2016. United States US: Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 15-64 data is updated yearly, averaging 64.683 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 66.046 % in 2009 and a record low of 59.938 % in 1962. United States US: Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 15-64 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 15 to 64 as a percentage of the total female population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average; Relevance to gender indicator: Knowing how many girls, adolescents and women there are in a population helps a country in determining its provision of services.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate - 25-54 Yrs., Women (LNS14000062) from Jan 1948 to May 2025 about 25 to 54 years, females, household survey, unemployment, rate, and USA.

Statistics about America's female vets. https://www.data.va.gov/story/women-veterans-forum

Graph and download economic data for Labor Force Participation Rate - 20 Yrs. & over, Women (LNU01300026) from Jan 1948 to May 2025 about 20 years +, females, participation, civilian, labor force, labor, household survey, rate, and USA.

United States US: Primary Education: Pupils: % Female data was reported at 48.937 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 48.838 % for 2014. United States US: Primary Education: Pupils: % Female data is updated yearly, averaging 48.719 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2015, with 31 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 49.474 % in 1999 and a record low of 48.294 % in 1983. United States US: Primary Education: Pupils: % Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Female pupils as a percentage of total pupils at primary level include enrollments in public and private schools.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate - 35-44 Yrs., Women (LNS14000334) from Jan 1948 to May 2025 about 35 to 44 years, females, household survey, unemployment, rate, and USA.

United States Unemployment Rate: Female data was reported at 3.400 % in Dec 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.500 % for Nov 2018. United States Unemployment Rate: Female data is updated monthly, averaging 5.850 % from Jan 1948 (Median) to Dec 2018, with 852 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.400 % in Jun 1983 and a record low of 2.600 % in May 1953. United States Unemployment Rate: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G018: Current Population Survey: Unemployment Rate.

The share of seats occupied by women in the United States Senate has increased significantly since 1965. In that year, two percent of seats were held by women. By 2019, this number had grown to 25 percent of seats.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Labor Force Participation Rate Female: From 15 to 64 Years for United States (LRAC64FEUSM156S) from Jan 1977 to Apr 2025 about 15 to 64 years, females, participation, labor force, labor, rate, and USA.