Cybersecurity professionals average 44 years old. Gen Z fills just 8 percent of roles worldwide. Leadership positions show even less age variety with only 5 percent of CISOs under 40.
Key Takeaways
- The average age of cybersecurity professionals is 44 years old globally in 2023
- 25% of cybersecurity workforce is under 30 years old in US 2022
- Over 50% of cyber pros are aged 45+ in Europe per 2023 data
- Persons with disabilities represent 4% of the cybersecurity workforce in the US 2023
- LGBTQ+ individuals make up 7% of cybersecurity professionals globally per 2022 survey
- 12% of cyber workforce has visible disabilities in UK 2023 data
- Women comprise 24% of the global cybersecurity workforce in 2023
- In the US, women make up 22% of the cybersecurity professionals as of 2022
- Female representation in cybersecurity leadership roles is only 10% globally in 2023
- Women CISOs number 15% in top firms 2023 up from 10% 2020
- Retention rate for diverse cyber teams 92% vs 85% homogeneous 2023 Gartner
- 20% of cybersecurity board seats held by women globally 2023
- Black or African American professionals make up 7% of the US cybersecurity workforce in 2023
- Hispanic or Latino representation in cybersecurity is 8% in the US per 2022 data
- Asian professionals constitute 38% of US cybersecurity roles in 2023
Cybersecurity remains older and unevenly diverse, with underrepresented groups and roles often not filling pipeline gaps.
Related reading
- Diversity Equity And Inclusion In IndustryDiversity Equity And Inclusion In The Cyber Security Industry Statistics
- Employment WorkforceTop 10 Best Diversity Recruitment Software of 2026
- Diversity Equity And Inclusion In IndustryDiversity Equity And Inclusion In The Tech Industry Statistics
- Education LearningCybersecurity Education Statistics
01 · Category
Age Diversity23 stats
01
The average age of cybersecurity professionals is 44 years old globally in 2023
02
25% of cybersecurity workforce is under 30 years old in US 2022
03
Over 50% of cyber pros are aged 45+ in Europe per 2023 data
04
Gen Z (under 25) represents only 8% of global cyber workforce 2023
05
Average tenure in cybersecurity is 5.2 years, skewing older demographics 2022
06
15% of cybersecurity roles filled by professionals over 55 in UK 2023
07
Millennials (25-40) make up 52% of US cyber workforce 2023
08
Only 5% of CISOs are under 40 years old globally 2022
09
Baby Boomers (55+) are 20% of cyber talent in Canada 2023
10
Age diversity index in cybersecurity is 0.65 vs 0.75 industry average 2023
11
30% of cyber retirees not replaced by under-35s in Australia 2022
12
Average age of women in cyber is 42 vs 46 for men US 2023
13
Gen X dominates 40% of leadership cyber roles globally 2023
14
Under 30s turnover rate in cyber is 22% annually 2022 survey
15
12% of cyber workforce is 60+ in Japan 2023
16
Youth apprenticeship programs increased under-25 cyber hires by 18% EU 2023
17
55% of cyber pros plan to retire in next 10 years per US 2022 poll
18
Average age gap between cyber entry-level and senior is 20 years 2023
19
Silent Generation (75+) still 1% active in cyber consulting 2023
20
28% of cyber students are over 40 in US colleges 2022
21
India cyber workforce average age 32, youngest globally 2023
22
35-44 age group grew 10% in cyber EU 2023
23
Over-50s underrepresented at 18% vs labor force 25% US cyber 2023
Interpretation
Age Diversity Interpretation
The cybersecurity field is currently a seasoned fortress manned by experienced Gen X and Millennial guardians, but the alarming shortage of eager young apprentices at the gates threatens its future defense.
02 · Category
Disability/LGBTQ+ Diversity25 stats
01
Persons with disabilities represent 4% of the cybersecurity workforce in the US 2023
02
LGBTQ+ individuals make up 7% of cybersecurity professionals globally per 2022 survey
03
12% of cyber workforce has visible disabilities in UK 2023 data
04
Neurodiverse professionals (autism/ADHD) are 10% of cyber talent pool 2023
05
Gay men represent 5% of US cybersecurity roles per 2022 poll
06
Only 2% of CISOs openly identify as transgender globally 2023
07
Disabled veterans are 3% of cyber workforce US DoD 2022
08
Bisexual professionals 4% in EU cybersecurity firms 2023
09
15% of cyber pros report chronic health disabilities 2022 global survey
10
LGBTQ+ retention 82% vs 88% straight in cyber 2023 US
11
Hearing impaired coders 6% effective in cyber roles per 2023 study
12
Non-binary identities 2% of young cyber workforce Gen Z 2022
13
Mobility impaired 5% in remote cyber jobs UK 2023
14
Lesbian women 3% of cybersecurity analysts Australia 2022
15
Mental health disclosed disabilities 8% cyber pros Canada 2023
16
Blind/visually impaired 1.5% using tech aids in cyber 2023 EU
17
Queer POC intersection 1% leadership cyber US 2022
18
Disability hiring initiatives boosted inclusion by 20% in cyber firms 2023
19
Transgender cyber pros face 30% higher discrimination 2022 survey
20
9% of cyber apprentices have learning disabilities 2023 UK
21
LGBTQ+ in cyber startups 10% founders 2023 Crunchbase
22
Cognitive diversity from disabilities aids innovation 25% more patents 2023
23
Wheelchair users 2% cyber remote workforce global 2022
24
Asexual spectrum 1% identified in cyber surveys 2023
25
Epilepsy disclosed 3% among cyber developers 2022
Interpretation
Disability/LGBTQ+ Diversity Interpretation
The cybersecurity landscape is missing a staggering array of talent and perspectives, proving that when we build walls to keep people out, we're not just being unfair—we're making ourselves profoundly less secure.
03 · Category
Gender Diversity30 stats
01
Women comprise 24% of the global cybersecurity workforce in 2023
02
In the US, women make up 22% of the cybersecurity professionals as of 2022
03
Female representation in cybersecurity leadership roles is only 10% globally in 2023
04
71% of organizations report a lack of gender diversity in cybersecurity teams per 2022 survey
05
Women hold 19% of cybersecurity positions in the UK according to 2023 data
06
In India, women account for 28% of the cybersecurity workforce in 2022
07
Only 14% of CISSP certificate holders are women as of 2023
08
Gender diversity in cybersecurity has improved by just 1% from 2020 to 2023 globally
09
35% of entry-level cybersecurity roles are held by women in the US in 2023
10
Women represent 26% of cybersecurity analysts but only 15% of CISOs in Europe 2022
11
In Australia, females constitute 25% of the cyber workforce per 2023 stats
12
78% of women in cybersecurity report experiencing gender bias at work in 2022 survey
13
Female STEM graduates entering cybersecurity dropped to 20% in 2023 US data
14
In Canada, women are 23% of cybersecurity professionals per 2022 labor stats
15
12% of cybersecurity venture-backed startups have female founders in 2023
16
Women in cybersecurity earn 96% of male counterparts' salary on average 2023
17
29% of cybersecurity conference speakers were women in 2023 major events
18
In Brazil, women hold 27% of cybersecurity jobs per 2022 national survey
19
Global gender pay gap in cybersecurity is 5% favoring men in 2023
20
18% of apprenticeships in cybersecurity are taken by women in EU 2023
21
Women represent 21% of US DoD cybersecurity workforce in 2022
22
In Singapore, females are 30% of cyber talent pool per 2023 report
23
64% of women cite lack of role models as barrier to cybersecurity careers 2022
24
Female retention rate in cybersecurity is 85% vs 90% for men in 2023
25
25% of cybersecurity bootcamp graduates are women globally 2023
26
In Germany, women are 20% of IT security specialists per 2022 stats
27
11% growth in female cybersecurity professionals from 2021-2023 US
28
Women hold 16% of CISO roles in Fortune 500 companies 2023
29
In South Africa, women comprise 24% of cybersecurity workforce 2022
30
22% of cybersecurity patents are filed by women inventors 2023
Interpretation
Gender Diversity Interpretation
Despite women consistently proving their mettle in cybersecurity, the field's persistent "man-tenance" mode—evident in everything from leadership roles to conference podiums—means we're still patching a critical vulnerability in our own talent pipeline.
More related reading
04 · Category
Leadership/Retention Diversity25 stats
01
Women CISOs number 15% in top firms 2023 up from 10% 2020
02
Retention rate for diverse cyber teams 92% vs 85% homogeneous 2023 Gartner
03
20% of cybersecurity board seats held by women globally 2023
04
Black executives in cyber firms 5% US 2022, improved to 7% 2023
05
Employee Resource Groups boost retention 15% in cyber 2023 Deloitte
06
65% of diverse-led cyber teams report higher innovation 2022 survey
07
CISO diversity training implemented in 40% firms 2023
08
Turnover reduced 12% with mentorship for underrepresented in cyber 2023
09
18% of VPs in cybersecurity are from minority ethnic groups US 2023
10
Inclusive cultures retain 89% cyber talent vs 75% others 2022 McKinsey
11
Female retention improves 10% with flexible work in cyber 2023
12
Diverse leadership correlates with 22% better breach response 2023
13
25% increase in minority promotions in cyber post-DEI 2022-2023
14
30% of cyber firms have DEI officer reporting to CISO 2023
15
Retention of under-30s up 18% with peer networks cyber 2023
16
LGBTQ+ leadership 8% in tech cyber firms 2023 up 3%
17
Disability-inclusive leadership training in 22% cyber orgs 2022
18
72% diverse teams have better risk management scores 2023 EY
19
Mentorship programs retain 85% underrepresented cyber talent 2023
20
Hispanic leaders 6% in cyber multinationals 2023
21
Age-diverse boards 28% more resilient to cyber threats 2022
22
55% firms track DEI metrics for cyber retention 2023
23
Women in exec cyber roles earn parity in 45% firms 2023
24
Black retention boosted by 14% via sponsorships 2023 US
25
Global cyber leadership diversity score 0.45/1.0 in 2023 index
Interpretation
Leadership/Retention Diversity Interpretation
The statistics show that diversity in cybersecurity is not just a feel-good initiative but a strategic powerhouse, with diverse teams being more innovative, resilient, and better at retention, yet the persistently low overall leadership score of 0.45 out of 1.0 proves the industry is still patching a major vulnerability in its own human firewall.
05 · Category
Racial/Ethnic Diversity26 stats
01
Black or African American professionals make up 7% of the US cybersecurity workforce in 2023
02
Hispanic or Latino representation in cybersecurity is 8% in the US per 2022 data
03
Asian professionals constitute 38% of US cybersecurity roles in 2023
04
Native American or Alaska Native individuals are only 1% of cybersecurity workforce US 2023
05
Black women represent just 3% of the cybersecurity field globally 2022
06
In the UK, ethnic minorities are 14% of cybersecurity professionals 2023
07
Hispanic cybersecurity professionals grew 12% YoY in US 2023
08
Asian Americans hold 45% of senior cybersecurity positions in Silicon Valley 2022
09
Black professionals are 5% of CISSP holders worldwide 2023
10
Pacific Islander representation in cyber is under 1% in Australia 2023
11
In Canada, Indigenous people are 2% of cybersecurity workforce 2022
12
South Asian ethnic group is 25% of UK cyber workforce 2023
13
Latino professionals face 20% higher unemployment in cyber than average 2023 US
14
Middle Eastern/North African cyber pros are 4% in US firms 2022
15
Black retention in cybersecurity is 78% vs 88% overall 2023 survey
16
9% of EU cybersecurity roles held by people of African descent 2023
17
Chinese ethnicity dominates 50% of cyber roles in Singapore 2022
18
Native Hawaiian cyber representation is 0.5% in US 2023
19
In India, Scheduled Castes are 6% of cybersecurity workforce 2023
20
White professionals are 60% of US cybersecurity field 2023
21
Multi-racial individuals are 3% of cyber workforce Canada 2022
22
Arab professionals 7% in Israel cybersecurity sector 2023
23
Black/Black British cyber pros 4% in UK 2023
24
Hispanic growth in cyber certifications up 15% in 2023 US
25
Under 2% of cybersecurity leaders are Black in Fortune 1000 2023
26
In Brazil, Afro-Brazilian cyber workforce is 8% per 2022
Interpretation
Racial/Ethnic Diversity Interpretation
While these statistics paint a stark picture of a global field still dominated by narrow demographics, the flickers of growth in underrepresented communities offer a cautious blueprint for building a more secure and innovative future.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Kevin O'Brien. (2026, February 13). Cybersecurity Diversity Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cybersecurity-diversity-statistics
MLA
Kevin O'Brien. "Cybersecurity Diversity Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/cybersecurity-diversity-statistics.
Chicago
Kevin O'Brien. 2026. "Cybersecurity Diversity Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cybersecurity-diversity-statistics.
Sources & references
80 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+1 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)