In 2023, around 21.3 percent of active duty officers in the United States Navy were women. Additionally, approximately 19.4 percent of officers in the Space Force were women.

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.

In 2023, 13.43 percent of soldiers serving in the German Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) were female. Figures increased annually during the specified timeline. The graph shows the share of female soldiers serving in the German Federal Armed Forces between 1975 and 2023.

This statistic shows the share of women and men in the U.S. Military in 2010 by branch. In 2010, 37 percent of all active-duty enlisted women were part of the Army. The total number of military personnel in the U.S. Army can be found here.

This graph displays female veterans by period of military service in 2009. 6,6 percent of the female veterans served the U.S. army during World War 2. The number of fatalities among Western coalition soldiers that were involved in the Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan can be found here.

During the Second World War, a total of approximately 342,000 women served in the United States military in some capacity. Some of these were enlisted in various branches of the military, while others were part of civilian organizations who provided voluntary assistance to the Armed Forces. The majority of these women remained in the U.S. for the duration of the war, in roles such as communications, engineering, and administration. American women overseas were not permitted to take part in active combat, but they played an indispensable role in keeping supply lines moving, while volunteer nurses saved countless lives near or on the frontlines (sometimes on active battlefields).

Women's Army Corps

Almost half (44 percent) of these women were enlisted in the Women's Army Corps (WAC). President Roosevelt signed a bill into law in May 1942, creating the WAC - a goal of 25,000 enlistments was set for the first year, but interest was so high that a limit of 150,000 was later introduced, and quickly met. Women were primarily seen as substitutes for men at home, as every female enlistment allowed one male soldier to take up a combat role. Women's roles were then expanded during the war, and physical and weapons trainings were provided so they could replace men if necessary. Women quickly gained prominent supporters among leading generals and military organizations, with the Air Force in particular advocating for increased female involvement - yet, society at large was less welcoming.

Backlash

Many women, especially wives of servicemen or those in towns with army bases, felt threatened by large numbers of young women enlisting. Volunteers were accused of sexual promiscuity, prostitution, and lesbianism. Servicemen often dissuaded their partners or sisters from volunteering, for fear of such accusations, while other men were opposed as they felt the presence of women weakened or emasculated their own position. Prominent journalists and religious organizations also repeated such sentiments, creating negative nationwide sentiments towards female volunteers. However, no investigations found evidence of these activities on a scale that warranted such hysteria, and military leaders pushed for further female participation in the military after the war's conclusion. Today, women make up just over one-sixth of the U.S. Armed Forces personnel.

This scatter chart displays proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments (%) against armed forces personnel (people). The data is about countries.

A large majority of the permanent employees in the Swedish Armed Forces are men. However, the share of women increased over the past years, from 17 percent in 2014 to 23 percent as of 2022. There are large gender differences between the different types of employees, the highest share of women being employed as civil workers .

Percentage representation of Employment Equity (EE) Designated Group Members (DGM) in the Canadian Armed Forces(CAF). Data is grouped by CAF component and Rank Category (Officer or Non-commissioned Member) as well as by Designated Environmental Percentage representation of Employment Equity (EE) Designated Group Members (DGM) in the Canadian Armed Forces(CAF). Data is grouped by CAF component and Rank Category (Officer or Non-commissioned Member) as well as by Designated Environmental Uniform (DEU). These DEUs are Sea (Royal Canadian Navy), Land (Canadian Army) and Air (Royal Canadian Air Force).

The dataset contains year- and state-wise data on the the actual strength of women police and their percentage share in the total police force. The total women police includes police in civil, district and armed forces

This dataset is about regions in the Americas. It has 4 rows. It features 3 columns: armed forces personnel, and proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments.

Armed forces personnel, total in World was reported at 27406000 in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. World - Armed forces personnel, total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In the fiscal year of 2019, 25.14 percent of all active-duty enlisted women were employed as administrators. A further 14.79 percent of active-duty women were employed in the medical field, as compared to 5.75 percent of men.

In April 2024, 13.1% of people in non-officer roles in the armed forces were from ethnic minorities, compared with 7.9% in April 2012.

Cambodia Employment: Women: Armed Forces data was reported at 5.000 Person th in 2021. This stayed constant from the previous number of 5.000 Person th for 2020. Cambodia Employment: Women: Armed Forces data is updated yearly, averaging 5.000 Person th from Jun 2020 (Median) to 2021, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.000 Person th in 2021 and a record low of 5.000 Person th in 2021. Cambodia Employment: Women: Armed Forces data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Cambodia – Table KH.G008: Employment: by Occupation.

Financial overview and grant giving statistics of Military Women Across the Nation

The graph illustrates the number of personnel in each branch of the U.S. Military for the year 2025. The x-axis lists the military branches: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The y-axis represents the number of personnel, ranging from 41,477 to 449,265. Among the branches, the Army has the highest number of personnel with 449,265, followed by the Navy with 333,794 and the Air Force with 317,675. The Marine Corps and Coast Guard have 168,628 and 41,477 personnel, respectively. The data is displayed in a bar graph format, effectively highlighting the distribution of military personnel across the different branches.

Among the different Italian defense forces, the army had the highest percentage of women, with 7.77 percent. The lowest share of female military personnel was observed in the Air Force, where only 4.72 percent of the total personnel was female. In Italy, the female military service started in 2000.

Cambodia Employment: Rural: Women: Armed Forces data was reported at 0.000 % in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.100 % for 2020. Cambodia Employment: Rural: Women: Armed Forces data is updated yearly, averaging 0.050 % from Jun 2020 (Median) to 2021, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.100 % in 2020 and a record low of 0.000 % in 2021. Cambodia Employment: Rural: Women: Armed Forces data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Cambodia – Table KH.G008: Employment: by Occupation.