GITNUXREPORT 2026

Gender Statistics

Biological differences create gender gaps in lifespan and health, but social inequality persists worldwide.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

Globally, there are approximately 101.7 males for every 100 females at birth, based on 2021 data from 195 countries

Statistic 2

The average biological lifespan difference shows women outliving men by 5.4 years globally in 2021, varying from 2.2 years in Russia to 13.5 years in Hong Kong

Statistic 3

Men have 50-100% more upper body strength than women on average across muscle mass measurements in studies of over 1000 adults

Statistic 4

Women possess about 6-11% more body fat percentage than men at equivalent fitness levels, as measured in NHANES data from 1999-2004

Statistic 5

The human female genome has two X chromosomes, leading to higher rates of X-linked disorders in males, with hemophilia affecting 1 in 5,000 males vs 1 in 25 million females

Statistic 6

Peak bone mass in women is reached 10 years earlier than in men, at age 20 vs 30, with women having 10-15% lower density post-peak, per NIH data

Statistic 7

Men's hearts are 10-12% larger and beat 10 fewer times per minute than women's, contributing to different cardiac risks, from AHA studies

Statistic 8

Women have 40% more neocortex neurons than men, averaging 19 billion vs 16 billion, from 28 postmortem brain analyses

Statistic 9

Testosterone levels in men average 300-1000 ng/dL vs 15-70 ng/dL in women, influencing muscle and aggression differences, per Mayo Clinic labs

Statistic 10

Women's olfactory bulbs are 50% larger than men's, enhancing smell sensitivity by 10-20% in perceptual tests

Statistic 11

Men have a 50% higher red blood cell count, leading to 10-15% higher oxygen-carrying capacity, from hematology studies

Statistic 12

The female pelvis is wider by 2-3 cm on average, adapted for childbirth, with a 20% larger inlet diameter, per anthropometric data

Statistic 13

Women experience 20-30% more chronic pain prevalence than men, linked to estrogen fluctuations, from IASP global surveys

Statistic 14

Men's average height exceeds women's by 13 cm globally (171 cm vs 159 cm) in 2020 data from 200 countries

Statistic 15

Women have twice the risk of autoimmune diseases like lupus (9:1 ratio), due to X-chromosome factors, per CDC

Statistic 16

Sperm count in men averages 15-200 million per ml, with daily production of 100-200 million, vs women's fixed 300-400k oocytes

Statistic 17

Women's skin is 25% thinner and ages 15% faster post-menopause due to collagen loss, from dermatology meta-analyses

Statistic 18

Men possess Y chromosome with SRY gene triggering testes development, absent in XX females, per genetics textbooks

Statistic 19

Average brain size in men is 11-12% larger (1360g vs 1200g), but women have 15% denser packing, from MRI studies of 6000+ subjects

Statistic 20

Women's fingers are relatively longer index-to-ring ratio (0.99 vs 0.96 in men), linked to prenatal testosterone

Statistic 21

Men have 16% higher basal metabolic rate, burning 300 more calories daily at rest, per Harris-Benedict data

Statistic 22

Females have 30% more verbal fluency neurons activated during language tasks, fMRI of 1000 participants

Statistic 23

In 2022, female labor force participation was 47.1% globally vs 72.1% for men, World Bank

Statistic 24

Women earn 77 cents for every dollar men earn in the US (2022 median), controlling for hours, BLS

Statistic 25

Unpaid care work: women do 2.6x more hours daily than men globally (2023 ILO)

Statistic 26

Women-owned businesses are 13.2% of formal firms in developing countries (2022 WBES)

Statistic 27

Gender pay gap in EU averages 12.7% in 2022, highest in Latvia 20.4%, Eurostat

Statistic 28

Men hold 85% of Fortune 500 CEO positions in 2023

Statistic 29

Women in tech earn 6% less than men with same experience in US 2022, Dice report

Statistic 30

Globally, 70% of the 1.2 billion working poor are women (2022 ILO)

Statistic 31

Female farmers produce 60-80% of food in Africa but own <20% of land, FAO 2023

Statistic 32

Women save 30% less of income than men in low-income countries, CGAP 2022

Statistic 33

In Japan, gender wage gap is 22% (2022 OECD)

Statistic 34

Women comprise 41% of agricultural workforce but <15% of extension services users, WB 2023

Statistic 35

US women entrepreneurs started 49.1% of new businesses in 2022, up from 28%

Statistic 36

Pension gender gap: women receive 30% less lifetime benefits in OECD average 2022

Statistic 37

Global female literacy rate reached 83.2% in 2022 vs 89.8% for males, narrowing gap to 6.6%

Statistic 38

In sub-Saharan Africa, 2022 primary school completion for girls is 64% vs 70% for boys, UNESCO

Statistic 39

Women earned 47% of US bachelor's degrees in 2021, up from 35% in 1970, NCES data

Statistic 40

Globally, 132 million girls out of school in 2022, 60% of out-of-school children are female

Statistic 41

Tertiary enrollment gender parity index is 1.11 globally (2022), women 11% ahead in higher ed

Statistic 42

In India, female literacy rose to 70.3% in 2021 from 64.6% in 2011, NSSO survey

Statistic 43

OECD PISA 2022 math scores: boys outperform girls by 15 points on average across 81 countries

Statistic 44

39% of girls in low-income countries marry before 18, dropping secondary enrollment by 30%, UNICEF 2023

Statistic 45

Women authors in STEM fields: 28% of publications in 2022, up 5% from 2012, Elsevier

Statistic 46

In the EU, women are 59% of university graduates but 24% of STEM grads in 2022, Eurostat

Statistic 47

Global female PhD completion rate lags by 10% behind males in 2021 OECD data

Statistic 48

Afghanistan girls' secondary enrollment fell to 13% post-2021 Taliban, vs 39% pre, HRW

Statistic 49

US female high school graduation rate 90.2% vs 87.4% male in 2021-22, ED.gov

Statistic 50

Women head 35% of households pursuing higher education in Latin America 2022, UNESCO

Statistic 51

Reading scores in PISA 2022: girls ahead by 27 points average

Statistic 52

Globally, women represent 49% of doctoral students but 33% of professors in 2022

Statistic 53

Global female life expectancy at birth was 75.6 years vs 70.8 for males in 2021, gap of 4.8 years

Statistic 54

Women comprise 70% of dementia cases worldwide, with Alzheimer's affecting 2x more women than men over 65, per WHO 2023

Statistic 55

Maternal mortality ratio stood at 223 deaths per 100,000 live births globally in 2020, down 34% from 2000

Statistic 56

Men account for 75% of global suicides, with rates 2.3x higher than women in 2021 WHO data

Statistic 57

Women experience 1.5x higher depression prevalence (5.1% vs 3.6% in men) annually worldwide, per 2019 meta-analysis

Statistic 58

HIV prevalence among women aged 15-24 is 1.6x higher in sub-Saharan Africa (2022 UNAIDS)

Statistic 59

Osteoporosis fractures occur in women at 3x the rate of men post-50, affecting 200 million women globally

Statistic 60

Women have 20% lower muscle mass loss resistance during aging, but 50% higher hip fracture risk, CDC data

Statistic 61

Global anemia affects 30% of women vs 13% of men, with 570 million women deficient in 2021

Statistic 62

Breast cancer caused 685,000 deaths in women in 2020, 99.6% of cases female

Statistic 63

Men have 2x prostate cancer incidence but women 1.5x thyroid cancer rates, GLOBOCAN 2020

Statistic 64

Women report 40% more doctor visits annually than men in the US (3.8 vs 2.7 per year, 2022 NHIS)

Statistic 65

Global obesity rate for women is 14.6% vs 10.6% for men in 2022, WHO STEPwise

Statistic 66

Women aged 50+ have 2-3x higher osteoporosis prevalence (30% vs 10%), IOF 2023

Statistic 67

In 2021, female cancer mortality was 16% higher for lung cancer in some regions due to smoking trends

Statistic 68

Women experience menopause averaging age 51, with 80% reporting hot flashes affecting sleep, SWAN study

Statistic 69

Men hold 80% of top executive health roles globally, impacting research bias, per 2022 analysis

Statistic 70

Women hold 27% of parliamentary seats worldwide as of 2023, up from 11% in 1995

Statistic 71

In 2023, only 13 countries have women heads of state/government, 10% of total

Statistic 72

Gender-based violence affects 736 million women (30%) lifetime globally, WHO 2021

Statistic 73

Women are 50.4% of voters in US 2020 election, higher turnout than men

Statistic 74

Globally, 18% of ministers are women in 2023, cabinet parity in only 4 countries

Statistic 75

Femicide: 82 women killed daily by intimate partners globally (47,000/year), UNODC 2023

Statistic 76

Women lead 22% of S&P 500 board chairs in 2023, up from 1% in 2012

Statistic 77

Child marriage: 12 million girls annually, 650 million living with child spouses, UNICEF 2023

Statistic 78

In media, women are 24% of news subjects (2022 GMMP)

Statistic 79

LGBTQ+ women face 2.5x higher poverty rates than straight women in US 2022

Statistic 80

Women refugees: 50% of 117 million forcibly displaced in 2023, UNHCR

Statistic 81

Online harassment: 38% of women vs 26% men experienced it (2022 Pew)

Statistic 82

Women in peace processes: included in 13% of agreements 1992-2019, UN Women

Statistic 83

Domestic workers: 92% women globally, 8 million in forced labor (2022 ILO)

Statistic 84

Single mothers head 23% of US families, poverty rate 25% vs 11% for married couples, 2022 Census

1/84

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From birth ratios to lifespan gaps, from biological distinctions to societal disparities, the numbers reveal a profound and multifaceted story about gender that stretches across every aspect of human existence.

Key Takeaways

Globally, there are approximately 101.7 males for every 100 females at birth, based on 2021 data from 195 countries
The average biological lifespan difference shows women outliving men by 5.4 years globally in 2021, varying from 2.2 years in Russia to 13.5 years in Hong Kong
Men have 50-100% more upper body strength than women on average across muscle mass measurements in studies of over 1000 adults
Global female life expectancy at birth was 75.6 years vs 70.8 for males in 2021, gap of 4.8 years
Women comprise 70% of dementia cases worldwide, with Alzheimer's affecting 2x more women than men over 65, per WHO 2023
Maternal mortality ratio stood at 223 deaths per 100,000 live births globally in 2020, down 34% from 2000
Global female literacy rate reached 83.2% in 2022 vs 89.8% for males, narrowing gap to 6.6%
In sub-Saharan Africa, 2022 primary school completion for girls is 64% vs 70% for boys, UNESCO
Women earned 47% of US bachelor's degrees in 2021, up from 35% in 1970, NCES data
In 2022, female labor force participation was 47.1% globally vs 72.1% for men, World Bank
Women earn 77 cents for every dollar men earn in the US (2022 median), controlling for hours, BLS
Unpaid care work: women do 2.6x more hours daily than men globally (2023 ILO)
Women hold 27% of parliamentary seats worldwide as of 2023, up from 11% in 1995
In 2023, only 13 countries have women heads of state/government, 10% of total
Gender-based violence affects 736 million women (30%) lifetime globally, WHO 2021

Biological differences create gender gaps in lifespan and health, but social inequality persists worldwide.

Biological Differences

Globally, there are approximately 101.7 males for every 100 females at birth, based on 2021 data from 195 countries
The average biological lifespan difference shows women outliving men by 5.4 years globally in 2021, varying from 2.2 years in Russia to 13.5 years in Hong Kong
Men have 50-100% more upper body strength than women on average across muscle mass measurements in studies of over 1000 adults
Women possess about 6-11% more body fat percentage than men at equivalent fitness levels, as measured in NHANES data from 1999-2004
The human female genome has two X chromosomes, leading to higher rates of X-linked disorders in males, with hemophilia affecting 1 in 5,000 males vs 1 in 25 million females
Peak bone mass in women is reached 10 years earlier than in men, at age 20 vs 30, with women having 10-15% lower density post-peak, per NIH data
Men's hearts are 10-12% larger and beat 10 fewer times per minute than women's, contributing to different cardiac risks, from AHA studies
Women have 40% more neocortex neurons than men, averaging 19 billion vs 16 billion, from 28 postmortem brain analyses
Testosterone levels in men average 300-1000 ng/dL vs 15-70 ng/dL in women, influencing muscle and aggression differences, per Mayo Clinic labs
Women's olfactory bulbs are 50% larger than men's, enhancing smell sensitivity by 10-20% in perceptual tests
Men have a 50% higher red blood cell count, leading to 10-15% higher oxygen-carrying capacity, from hematology studies
The female pelvis is wider by 2-3 cm on average, adapted for childbirth, with a 20% larger inlet diameter, per anthropometric data
Women experience 20-30% more chronic pain prevalence than men, linked to estrogen fluctuations, from IASP global surveys
Men's average height exceeds women's by 13 cm globally (171 cm vs 159 cm) in 2020 data from 200 countries
Women have twice the risk of autoimmune diseases like lupus (9:1 ratio), due to X-chromosome factors, per CDC
Sperm count in men averages 15-200 million per ml, with daily production of 100-200 million, vs women's fixed 300-400k oocytes
Women's skin is 25% thinner and ages 15% faster post-menopause due to collagen loss, from dermatology meta-analyses
Men possess Y chromosome with SRY gene triggering testes development, absent in XX females, per genetics textbooks
Average brain size in men is 11-12% larger (1360g vs 1200g), but women have 15% denser packing, from MRI studies of 6000+ subjects
Women's fingers are relatively longer index-to-ring ratio (0.99 vs 0.96 in men), linked to prenatal testosterone
Men have 16% higher basal metabolic rate, burning 300 more calories daily at rest, per Harris-Benedict data
Females have 30% more verbal fluency neurons activated during language tasks, fMRI of 1000 participants

Biological Differences Interpretation

Nature started with a slight numerical advantage for boys at birth, but in the grand, ironic balancing act of biology, women built in greater durability, neurological complexity, and sensory perception, while men packed more raw physical power and metabolic fuel, proving that the human blueprint comes in two brilliantly and sometimes frustratingly different editions.

Economic Statistics

In 2022, female labor force participation was 47.1% globally vs 72.1% for men, World Bank
Women earn 77 cents for every dollar men earn in the US (2022 median), controlling for hours, BLS
Unpaid care work: women do 2.6x more hours daily than men globally (2023 ILO)
Women-owned businesses are 13.2% of formal firms in developing countries (2022 WBES)
Gender pay gap in EU averages 12.7% in 2022, highest in Latvia 20.4%, Eurostat
Men hold 85% of Fortune 500 CEO positions in 2023
Women in tech earn 6% less than men with same experience in US 2022, Dice report
Globally, 70% of the 1.2 billion working poor are women (2022 ILO)
Female farmers produce 60-80% of food in Africa but own <20% of land, FAO 2023
Women save 30% less of income than men in low-income countries, CGAP 2022
In Japan, gender wage gap is 22% (2022 OECD)
Women comprise 41% of agricultural workforce but <15% of extension services users, WB 2023
US women entrepreneurs started 49.1% of new businesses in 2022, up from 28%
Pension gender gap: women receive 30% less lifetime benefits in OECD average 2022

Economic Statistics Interpretation

Despite women's essential global economic contributions, from farming to founding companies, their labor is systematically devalued, creating a stubborn and costly inequality where their work consistently yields less pay, less security, less ownership, and even a smaller pension than men's.

Education Statistics

Global female literacy rate reached 83.2% in 2022 vs 89.8% for males, narrowing gap to 6.6%
In sub-Saharan Africa, 2022 primary school completion for girls is 64% vs 70% for boys, UNESCO
Women earned 47% of US bachelor's degrees in 2021, up from 35% in 1970, NCES data
Globally, 132 million girls out of school in 2022, 60% of out-of-school children are female
Tertiary enrollment gender parity index is 1.11 globally (2022), women 11% ahead in higher ed
In India, female literacy rose to 70.3% in 2021 from 64.6% in 2011, NSSO survey
OECD PISA 2022 math scores: boys outperform girls by 15 points on average across 81 countries
39% of girls in low-income countries marry before 18, dropping secondary enrollment by 30%, UNICEF 2023
Women authors in STEM fields: 28% of publications in 2022, up 5% from 2012, Elsevier
In the EU, women are 59% of university graduates but 24% of STEM grads in 2022, Eurostat
Global female PhD completion rate lags by 10% behind males in 2021 OECD data
Afghanistan girls' secondary enrollment fell to 13% post-2021 Taliban, vs 39% pre, HRW
US female high school graduation rate 90.2% vs 87.4% male in 2021-22, ED.gov
Women head 35% of households pursuing higher education in Latin America 2022, UNESCO
Reading scores in PISA 2022: girls ahead by 27 points average
Globally, women represent 49% of doctoral students but 33% of professors in 2022

Education Statistics Interpretation

While we can celebrate the narrowing literacy gap and women’s rising university presence, the persistent barriers of child marriage, regional crises like Afghanistan, and the STEM pipeline leak remind us that global gender parity in education remains a victory still under construction.

Health Statistics

Global female life expectancy at birth was 75.6 years vs 70.8 for males in 2021, gap of 4.8 years
Women comprise 70% of dementia cases worldwide, with Alzheimer's affecting 2x more women than men over 65, per WHO 2023
Maternal mortality ratio stood at 223 deaths per 100,000 live births globally in 2020, down 34% from 2000
Men account for 75% of global suicides, with rates 2.3x higher than women in 2021 WHO data
Women experience 1.5x higher depression prevalence (5.1% vs 3.6% in men) annually worldwide, per 2019 meta-analysis
HIV prevalence among women aged 15-24 is 1.6x higher in sub-Saharan Africa (2022 UNAIDS)
Osteoporosis fractures occur in women at 3x the rate of men post-50, affecting 200 million women globally
Women have 20% lower muscle mass loss resistance during aging, but 50% higher hip fracture risk, CDC data
Global anemia affects 30% of women vs 13% of men, with 570 million women deficient in 2021
Breast cancer caused 685,000 deaths in women in 2020, 99.6% of cases female
Men have 2x prostate cancer incidence but women 1.5x thyroid cancer rates, GLOBOCAN 2020
Women report 40% more doctor visits annually than men in the US (3.8 vs 2.7 per year, 2022 NHIS)
Global obesity rate for women is 14.6% vs 10.6% for men in 2022, WHO STEPwise
Women aged 50+ have 2-3x higher osteoporosis prevalence (30% vs 10%), IOF 2023
In 2021, female cancer mortality was 16% higher for lung cancer in some regions due to smoking trends
Women experience menopause averaging age 51, with 80% reporting hot flashes affecting sleep, SWAN study
Men hold 80% of top executive health roles globally, impacting research bias, per 2022 analysis

Health Statistics Interpretation

While women generally outlive men, this longevity comes at a high price, marked by a disproportionate burden of chronic disease and a healthcare system still catching up to their biological and social needs.

Political and Social Statistics

Women hold 27% of parliamentary seats worldwide as of 2023, up from 11% in 1995
In 2023, only 13 countries have women heads of state/government, 10% of total
Gender-based violence affects 736 million women (30%) lifetime globally, WHO 2021
Women are 50.4% of voters in US 2020 election, higher turnout than men
Globally, 18% of ministers are women in 2023, cabinet parity in only 4 countries
Femicide: 82 women killed daily by intimate partners globally (47,000/year), UNODC 2023
Women lead 22% of S&P 500 board chairs in 2023, up from 1% in 2012
Child marriage: 12 million girls annually, 650 million living with child spouses, UNICEF 2023
In media, women are 24% of news subjects (2022 GMMP)
LGBTQ+ women face 2.5x higher poverty rates than straight women in US 2022
Women refugees: 50% of 117 million forcibly displaced in 2023, UNHCR
Online harassment: 38% of women vs 26% men experienced it (2022 Pew)
Women in peace processes: included in 13% of agreements 1992-2019, UN Women
Domestic workers: 92% women globally, 8 million in forced labor (2022 ILO)
Single mothers head 23% of US families, poverty rate 25% vs 11% for married couples, 2022 Census

Political and Social Statistics Interpretation

While we chart the glacial progress of women's seats at the table, the world remains alarmingly comfortable with the brutal cost exacted from their bodies, homes, and safety simply for existing in it.