Women generally drive the majority of consumer spending, responsible for 70-80% of all purchases, making decisions for households, personal care, and groceries, while men tend to spend more in specific categories like electronics or vehicles and often prefer online, goal-oriented shopping. Men spend more per individual transaction on certain high-value items, but women dominate overall purchasing power and frequency across many product types, making them the key demographic for most businesses.
Women make up more than half of the U.S. population and control or influence 85% of consumer spending. Women's buying power in the U.S. is between $5 trillion and $15 trillion each year.
In fact, women control over $20 trillion in annual consumer spending and drive 70-80% of all consumer purchases in the U.S. Not only are women buying for themselves, they're often the sole person buying for their family and children.
85% of all consumer purchases in the U.S. are made by women. 93% of food purchases are made by women. 75% of women identify themselves as the primary household shopper. 50% of products typically marketed to men are purchased by women.
TIL in 2019 research found that women buy 62% of all new cars sold in the US, and in addition, women influence more than 85% of all car purchases.
Another study by Netstar found that, according to every measure of driving competence, women scored higher. Men were more likely to hit other cars, potholes, and objects in the road, to suddenly brake, and to rapidly accelerate. In one British study, women were better parkers on every conceivable measure.
Women around the world report higher levels of life satisfaction than men, but at the same time report more daily stress. And while this finding holds across countries on average, it does not hold in countries where gender rights are compromised, as in much of the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa.
Prevalence of Mental Health Issues in Women
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), women are nearly twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression, and they are also more likely to suffer from anxiety disorders.
The number of men and women in the world is roughly equal, though men hold a slight lead with 102 men for 100 women (in 2020). More precisely, out of 1,000 people, 504 are men (50.4%) and 496 are women (49.6%).
Men have 2 percent more credit card debt than women. Men have 9.7 percent more mortgage debt than women. Men have 20 percent more personal loan debt than women. Women have 2.7 percent more student loan debt than men.
Understanding the gender wealth gap
On average women earn 20% less than men, and are overrepresented in lower-paying jobs with precarious working conditions. They also shoulder 76% of unpaid care work, limiting time and opportunities to earn or grow wealth.
Women Are More Frugal Than Men, but They Feel Greater Financial...
Men's savings versus women's savings
Additionally, women were more likely to say they saved less money in 2024 than they did in 2023 (53% versus 42% of men), especially millennial and Gen X women (57% and 59%, respectively). The data shows that women are, in fact, behind men when it comes to saving.
In humans, the natural sex ratio at birth is slightly biased towards the male sex. It is estimated to be about 1.05 worldwide or within a narrow range from 1.03 to 1.06 males per female at birth.
6 qualities women find most attractive in men
The economy is now increasing steadily but the rate of women is still drastically declining. The economy has at a 6.8 percent as of 2023. Women now have more access to education but women in the workforce has dropped from 32 percent in 2005 to 19 percent in 2023.
A century ago, there were less than two years between men's and women's life expectancies in the United States. Today, that gender gap has almost tripled, with men dying 5.3 years earlier than women in 2023.
Men are more likely than women to use almost all types of illicit drugs,13 and illicit drug use is more likely to result in emergency department visits or overdose deaths for men than for women. "Illicit" refers to use of illegal drugs, including marijuana (according to federal law) and misuse of prescription drugs.
📊 According to Pew Research, nearly 63% of men under 30 are single—and many aren't actively looking. 💭 Psychologists link this trend to shifting priorities: autonomy, emotional safety, financial independence, and avoiding high-risk commitments like marriage.
Research has suggested that women express emotions more frequently than men on average. Multiple researchers have found that women cry more frequently, and for longer durations than men at similar ages. The gender differences appear to peak in the most fertile years.
The 2-2-2 rule for marriage is a guideline to keep a relationship strong and connected: have a date night every two weeks, a weekend getaway every two months, and a week-long vacation every two years. This system encourages regular, intentional quality time, breaks from routine, and deeper connection by ensuring couples prioritize each other amidst daily life, work, and family, preventing stagnation and fostering fun.
Top 10 Female-Dominated Professions in the United States
Heavily male-dominated industries — such as finance, insurance, science and tech — have the widest gender pay gaps. Legal and sales occupations have the biggest differences in earnings between women and men.
Network marketing has created more female millionaires than any other industry in the world—and it's just the beginning.