United States
Gender Gap

In the United States, the gender gap refers to disparities between men and women across various aspects of society, including employment, education, and political representation. Despite strides towards gender equality, significant inequalities persist, impacting women’s opportunities and outcomes.

In the workforce, American women face challenges such as wage discrepancies, limited access to leadership positions, and a disproportionate burden of unpaid care work. While progress has been made in some areas, women continue to earn less on average than men and are underrepresented in senior roles.

Education is generally equitable in the United States, with both men and women having access to high-quality education. However, women are underrepresented in certain fields such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), which limits their opportunities for career advancement and economic empowerment.

In terms of political representation, women in the United States have made strides, but there is still room for improvement. Women hold fewer seats in Congress and state legislatures compared to men, and barriers to entry persist for women seeking political office.

Addressing the gender gap in the United States requires concerted efforts from government, businesses, civil society, and individuals. Policies promoting gender equality, such as pay equity legislation and initiatives to encourage women’s leadership, are crucial for creating a more inclusive society.

By acknowledging and actively working to address the gender gap, the United States can further advance gender equality and create a society where individuals of all genders have equal opportunities to thrive and contribute to society’s progress.


World Economic Forum

Global Gender Gap Report United States

The Global Gender Gap Report benchmarks countries on their progress towards gender parity across four thematic dimensions: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment.

2023
Rank: 43 (out of 146 countries)
Score: 0.748
report

2022
Rank: 27 (out of 146 countries)
Score: 0.769

2021
Rank: 30 (out of 156 countries)
Score: 0.763

2020
Rank: 53 (out of 153 countries)
Score: 0.724

2018
Rank: 51 (out of 149 countries)
Score: 0,720

2017
Rank: 49 (out of 144 countries)
Score: 0.718

2016
Rank: 45 (out of 144 countries)
Score: 0.722


UN Women

Women Count Data Hub: United States of America

Globally, some progress on women’s rights has been achieved. In the United States of America, the adolescent birth rate is 17.4 per 1,000 women aged 15–19 as of 2018, down from 18.6 per 1,000 in 2017. As of February 2021, 27.3% of seats in parliament were held by women. In 2019, 78.4% of women of reproductive age (15-49 years) had their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods.

Country Fact Sheet
> data.unwomen.org/country/united-states-of-america