Men are hit with big health and life odds, from 153.7 male deaths per 100,000 from heart disease in 2021 to 13.8% of adult men who were current smokers in 2022. Then there is the digital side, where 24% of U.S. men reported using generative AI tools at least once in 2024 while 76% use the internet at least once per day. Put together, these contrasts raise a sharper question than most “men’s stats” lists do, what is changing for men and what is staying stubbornly the same.
Key Takeaways
- 100.5 deaths per 100,000 population for males from cancer in 2021
- 153.7 deaths per 100,000 population for males from heart disease in 2021
- 25.6% of men aged 18+ reported no leisure-time physical activity in 2022
- 19.6% of men in the U.S. reported wearing a smartwatch in 2023
- 57% of U.S. men use social media (2023)
- 17% of U.S. men use social media mainly for news (2023)
- 10.9% of U.S. men reported homelessness in their lifetime (2024)
- 3.6% of men age 16+ were unemployed in 2024 (U.S.)
- 3.8% unemployment rate for men age 20–24 in 2024 (U.S.)
- 17.9% of U.S. men were obese (BMI ≥30) in 2017–2020
- Men had a 22% higher risk of cardiovascular disease than women in high-income countries (2021 meta-analysis)
- 76% of U.S. men used the internet at least once per day in 2023
- 49% of U.S. men used YouTube in 2023
- 24% of U.S. men used generative AI tools at least once in 2024
- 5.4% of U.S. men aged 16+ were unemployed in 2023
In 2021 and 2022, men faced major health risks like heart disease deaths and high smoking, alongside growing digital and AI use.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographics & Health6 stats
01
100.5 deaths per 100,000 population for males from cancer in 2021https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/cancer.htm
02
153.7 deaths per 100,000 population for males from heart disease in 2021https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/heart-disease.htm
03
25.6% of men aged 18+ reported no leisure-time physical activity in 2022https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/annual_data/annual_2022.html
04
11.1% of adult men had diabetes in 2021–2022https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/diabetes.htm
05
13.8% of adult men aged 18+ were current smokers in 2022https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/smoking.htm
06
17.7% of adult men aged 18+ had heavy alcohol use in 2022https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/alcohol.htm
Interpretation
Demographics & Health Interpretation
For the Men in the Demographics & Health category, heart disease stands out as a major killer with 153.7 deaths per 100,000 in 2021, while 25.6% report no leisure-time physical activity, 13.8% are current smokers, and 17.7% have heavy alcohol use in 2022, suggesting multiple modifiable risk factors are aligned with high chronic disease burden.
02 · Category
Technology & Media10 stats
01
19.6% of men in the U.S. reported wearing a smartwatch in 2023https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/mobile/
02
57% of U.S. men use social media (2023)https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/social-media/
03
17% of U.S. men use social media mainly for news (2023)https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/fact-sheet/news-use/
04
43% of U.S. men used video streaming services in 2023https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/internet-broadband/
05
62% of men use email as a primary communication channel at least weekly (2023)https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/internet-users/
06
24% of U.S. men said they used generative AI tools at least once in 2024https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/04/03/what-we-know-about-generative-ai-and-humans/
07
15% of U.S. men said they used ChatGPT or similar tools in 2023https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2023/11/01/internet-better-future/
08
23% of U.S. men reported using meditation apps in 2023https://www.pewresearch.org/health/fact-sheet/digital-health/
09
3.2 billion people worldwide use messaging apps (2024 estimate), with male users representing the largest share of app users in many markets (DataReportal, 2024)https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2024-global-overview-report
10
AI adoption: 26% of businesses in North America use generative AI in 2024 (men as primary decision-makers not isolated)https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2024-04-15-gartner-says-26-percent-of-businesses-in-north-america-have-adopted-generative-ai
Interpretation
Technology & Media Interpretation
In the Technology & Media space, U.S. men are heavily engaged across platforms and services, with 57% using social media in 2023 and 43% using video streaming, while generative AI is emerging fast as 24% of men used generative AI tools at least once in 2024.
03 · Category
Economics & Work7 stats
01
10.9% of U.S. men reported homelessness in their lifetime (2024)https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/assth.html
02
3.6% of men age 16+ were unemployed in 2024 (U.S.)https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat01.htm
03
3.8% unemployment rate for men age 20–24 in 2024 (U.S.)https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat02.htm
04
52.2% of men age 25–54 had a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2023 (U.S.)https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d23/tables/dt23_104.10.asp
05
11.7% of men aged 16+ were in poverty in 2022 (U.S.)https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2023/demo/p60-279.html
06
7.9% of men aged 25–64 were without health insurance in 2022 (U.S.)https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2023/demo/p60-280.pdf
07
10.8% male employment rate unemployment in 2024 (UK; ONS)https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/uklabourmarket/january2024
Interpretation
Economics & Work Interpretation
Across Economics and Work measures, U.S. men show persistent economic strain with 11.7% living in poverty in 2022 and 10.9% reporting homelessness in their lifetime, alongside unemployment rates of 3.6% overall in 2024 and 3.8% for ages 20–24.
04 · Category
Health & Risk2 stats
01
17.9% of U.S. men were obese (BMI ≥30) in 2017–2020https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/06/03/2022-12149/health-statistics
02
Men had a 22% higher risk of cardiovascular disease than women in high-income countries (2021 meta-analysis)https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01286-1/fulltext
Interpretation
Health & Risk Interpretation
In the Health and Risk category, U.S. men show a clear weight-related concern with 17.9% obese in 2017 to 2020, and on top of that they face a 22% higher cardiovascular disease risk than women in high-income countries, as highlighted by a 2021 meta-analysis.
05 · Category
User Adoption3 stats
01
76% of U.S. men used the internet at least once per day in 2023https://www.internetlivestats.com/internet-users-by-country/
02
49% of U.S. men used YouTube in 2023https://www.businessofapps.com/data/youtube-statistics/
03
24% of U.S. men used generative AI tools at least once in 2024https://www.journalism.org/2024/09/24/generative-ai-usage-rises-among-adults/
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
For the user adoption angle, 76% of U.S. men are already daily internet users while 49% use YouTube and 24% have tried generative AI tools in 2024, showing a clear adoption funnel from general online activity to emerging AI use.
More related reading
06 · Category
Workforce & Income2 stats
01
5.4% of U.S. men aged 16+ were unemployed in 2023https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat03.htm
02
Men comprised 83% of the U.S. labor force in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting in 2023https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat10.htm
Interpretation
Workforce & Income Interpretation
In 2023, U.S. men had a 5.4% unemployment rate and made up 83% of the labor force in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting, showing a workforce pattern where men are heavily represented in certain income-linked industries even as overall unemployment remains relatively low.
07 · Category
Health & Insurance1 stats
01
32% of adult men worldwide have hypertension (2019 estimate) according to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) studyhttps://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736%2820%2931871-3
Interpretation
Health & Insurance Interpretation
For Health and Insurance planning, the fact that 32% of adult men worldwide have hypertension as of the 2019 Global Burden of Disease estimate signals a large, ongoing health risk that can drive higher coverage and care needs.
08 · Category
Workforce & Education3 stats
01
85.8% of U.S. men (age 18–24) were employed in the civilian labor force during 2023https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.htm
02
4.1% of U.S. men (age 16+) were unemployed in 2023https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t04.htm
03
Men made up 67% of U.S. STEM bachelor’s degree recipients in 2022https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/2024/nsf24304/
Interpretation
Workforce & Education Interpretation
In the Workforce and Education category, 85.8% of US men aged 18 to 24 were employed in the civilian labor force in 2023 while 4.1% were unemployed, and men also represented 67% of US STEM bachelor’s degree recipients in 2022.
09 · Category
Lifestyle & Consumer Behavior1 stats
01
74% of U.S. men own at least one smartphone (2023)https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2023/04/12/mobile-technology-and-home-broadband/
Interpretation
Lifestyle & Consumer Behavior Interpretation
In 2023, 74% of U.S. men owning at least one smartphone shows how deeply mobile access is shaping lifestyle and day to day consumer behavior.
10 · Category
Safety & Risk4 stats
01
In 2022, men accounted for 76% of workplace fatal injuries in the U.S. (Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, CFOI)https://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/cfoi_data.htm
02
Men accounted for 64% of U.S. workplace injuries involving days away from work in 2022https://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/osh/oshreq.htm
03
Men committed 87% of homicides worldwide in 2021 (UNODC estimates, Global Study on Homicide)https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/global-study-on-homicide.html
04
Men are responsible for 92% of fatalities in road traffic crashes in many high-income countries (WHO Global status report on road safety, 2018 baseline)https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241565684
Interpretation
Safety & Risk Interpretation
For the Safety and Risk category, the pattern is stark: in 2022 men made up 76% of U.S. workplace fatal injuries and 64% of injuries with days away from work, alongside being responsible for 87% of worldwide homicides in 2021 and 92% of road traffic crash fatalities in many high-income countries.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Daniel Varga. (2026, February 13). Men Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/men-statistics
MLA
Daniel Varga. "Men Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/men-statistics.
Chicago
Daniel Varga. 2026. "Men Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/men-statistics.
Sources & references
39 datasets cited across this report
+22 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)