Which US States Have More Women Than Men?

Women across the United States outnumber the country’s men, making up roughly 50.42% of the population. Additionally, women make up the majority in higher education, accounting for 58% of undergraduate and 61% of graduate students. However, despite representing the majority in some areas, American women still face significant challenges in others, such as pay gaps and workforce participation. These disparities persist even in states with the highest percentages of women, including Alabama, with 51.5%, Mississippi, with 51.47%, and Delaware, with 51.43%. All data is taken directly from the US census.gov platform.

US States With The Highest Percentage Of Women

Alabama - 51.50%

Alabama, a southern US state between Mississippi and Georgia, has the largest percentage of women in the country, representing about 51.5% of residents. However, despite having a higher population than men in the state, women continue to face considerable challenges in the workforce and economically. Although the percentage of women with bachelor’s degrees has increased by 7% since 2000, women continue to have lower average annual earnings than men, earning about 74.8 cents per dollar than men do. Alabama is also ranked 44th in the country in terms of women in poverty rates, with 18.3% of women under the poverty line, compared to 14.9% of the state’s men.

Mississippi - 51.47%

Mississippi, Alabama’s western neighbor, closely trails Alabama in terms of its women-to-men ratio, with 51.47% of the population being women. Despite this higher proportion of women, Mississippi continues to face significant challenges regarding gender equity. Women in Mississippi face barriers in the workforce, with only about 25% of women over the age of 25 holding a bachelor’s degree, a number that has increased by 7% since 2000. Additionally, the state is ranked the lowest nationwide in terms of women’s poverty, with 21.9% of women living beneath the poverty line, compared to 16.4% of men in the state.

Delaware - 51.43%

Delaware, a small, northeastern state, has the third-highest ratio of women to men in the country, at about 51.43% of the population. With this ratio in mind, the ratio of women continues to be fairly disproportional in other aspects related to the economy and workforce. Although women compose over half of the state’s population, they represent just 32.6% of business owners. Just 45% of managerial positions are held by women as well. However, despite ongoing discrepancies in pay, workforce engagement, and career opportunities, since 2004, the wage gap in the state has narrowed, and a higher percentage of women have bachelor’s degrees, denoting certain improvements.

South Carolina - 51.35%

South Carolina, located on the southeastern Atlantic coast, has a female population that consists of 51.35% of its residents. Although South Carolina has higher percentages of women as business owners and in the workforce compared to some other states, these figures are still disproportional compared to the overall female population percentage. Of the female population, 28% of women over the age of 25 have a bachelor’s degree, while 35.9% of South Carolinian business owners are women. 56.7% of women in South Carolina are part of the workforce, slightly lower than the percentage of men at 65.1%.

Maryland - 51.27%

Maryland, a mid-Atlantic state that neighbors Delaware, has a female population percentage of 51.27%. Maryland ranks third in the country in both Women’s Employment and Earnings reports and Poverty and Opportunity. Approximately 48% of individuals in managerial roles are women, which is close to the overall female population percentage but still falls slightly short. 39.3% of business owners are also women in Maryland. Regarding poverty, just 11.9% of women live in poverty, a rate that is much lower than some other states with high ratios of women, such as Alabama and Mississippi.

Georgia - 51.21%

Georgia, a southeastern US state bordering Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, and Tennessee, has a female population that accounts for 51.21% of its overall residents. Regarding their percentages in the economy and workforce, the percentages are similar to those of the other states. 40.5% of business owners are women, which is nearly 10% higher than it was in 2007. The percentage of women with bachelor’s degrees has also risen over the years, increasing by about 9 points since 2000 to reach 32% today. However, women in Georgia face higher poverty rates compared to many other states, with 17.4% living below the poverty line.

North Carolina - 51.12%

North Carolina, sandwiched between Virginia and South Carolina, has a female population of 51.12%. Although North Carolina has made significant advances in gender equality over the past two decades, a lot of work remains to give the state’s female population more economic and labor opportunities. Less women are in the workforce than men, for example: 57.3% of the female population, compared to 67.2% of men. The female population, however, has been increasingly present in managerial positions, with women representing 42% of managerial or professional occupations.

New York - 51.07%

The northeastern, mid-Atlantic state of New York has a female population that represents 51.07% of its residents. Compared to other states, New York has a fairly high percentage of women with bachelor’s degrees, with 37% over the age of 25 holding bachelor's degrees or higher. Despite a more educated female population, poverty remains high in New York, which has the ninth-highest poverty rate among women in the country, with 17.6% living in poverty. Regarding participation in the labor force, 58.3% of women are in the workforce, which is nearly 10% lower than the participation of the male population.

Massachusetts - 51.02%

In Massachusetts, women make up 51.02% of the population, trailing just 0.05% behind New York. Although there is still a discrepancy between women and men in terms of equality, its female population faces fewer barriers than in other states. About 49% of those in managerial positions, for example, are women, and 43% of the female population has a bachelor's degree or higher. The rate of women who are business owners is lower than in some other states with high female populations, however, with just under a third of all business owners being women.

Louisiana - 51.02%

Louisiana has a nearly identical female-to-male population ratio as Massachusetts, with women comprising roughly 51.02% of the population. However, despite having a similar ratio to Massachusetts, Louisiana women, in general, face a greater number of barriers. Full-time female workers in Louisiana, for example, earn just 69 cents per dollar that men do, and just a quarter of the female population holds a bachelor's degree or higher. Additionally, Louisiana has the second-highest poverty rate among women in the country, with 21.8% of its female population living in poverty.

Final Thoughts

While these states with high women-to-men ratios have largely seen growth and progress in terms of gender equality over the past few decades, much work remains. The challenges that persist, such as pay gaps and disparities in workforce participation, emphasize the need for continued efforts to address gender inequality. By examining the states where women outnumber men, it becomes clear that achieving true equality involves not only understanding demographic trends but also addressing the systemic issues that affect women's opportunities and economic well-being.

US States Ranked By Percentage of Population That Is Female

*Washington D.C., although it has the highest female population percentage in the US, is not included in the ranking as it is not a U.S. state.