Census ACS 2023 · 51 states
States With Highest Female Population
While the US population is roughly evenly split between men and women, state-level differences in gender ratio reveal interesting demographic patterns. States with older populations tend to have more women because women live longer on average. The District of Columbia, Delaware, and Maryland have among the highest female population percentages, influenced by factors including urban job markets that attract women, older median ages, and university enrollment patterns. States with the lowest female percentages tend to have large military installations, male-dominated industries like mining and oil extraction, or frontier cultures that historically attracted male workers. Gender ratios affect housing markets, consumer spending, healthcare demand, political representation, and social services. Understanding these differences helps policymakers address gender-specific needs in healthcare, education, and economic development.
Key Findings
- 1District of Columbia leads with a female population percentage of 52.4%, followed by Alabama (51.5%) and Mississippi (51.5%).
- 2The gap between #1 District of Columbia and #51 Alaska (47.5%) is 4.9 percentage points.
- 3The national median across all states is 50.4% (Indiana at the midpoint).
- 4The top 10 states are: District of Columbia, Alabama, Mississippi, Delaware, Maryland, South Carolina, New York, Georgia, North Carolina, Massachusetts.
Full Ranking: States With Highest Female Population
Source: Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates
| # | State | Female % | Median Age | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 48.8% | 38.8 | 579,761 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 49.9% | 40.1 | 5,892,023 |
| 3 | West Virginia | 50.1% | 42.7 | 1,784,462 |
| 4 | Washington | 49.6% | 38.2 | 7,740,984 |
| 5 | Virginia | 50.6% | 38.8 | 8,657,499 |
| 6 | Vermont | 50.4% | 43 | 645,254 |
| 7 | Utah | 49.4% | 31.7 | 3,331,187 |
| 8 | Texas | 50.1% | 35.5 | 29,640,343 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 50.9% | 38.9 | 6,986,082 |
| 10 | South Dakota | 49.3% | 37.7 | 899,194 |
| 11 | South Carolina | 51.3% | 40.1 | 5,212,774 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 51.0% | 40.5 | 1,095,371 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 50.7% | 40.9 | 12,986,518 |
| 14 | Oregon | 50.1% | 40.1 | 4,238,714 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 50.2% | 36.9 | 3,995,260 |
| 16 | Ohio | 50.7% | 39.6 | 11,780,046 |
| 17 | North Dakota | 48.8% | 35.7 | 779,361 |
| 18 | North Carolina | 51.1% | 39.1 | 10,584,340 |
| 19 | New York | 51.2% | 39.6 | 19,872,319 |
| 20 | New Mexico | 50.3% | 39.2 | 2,114,768 |
| 21 | New Jersey | 50.8% | 40.1 | 9,267,014 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | 50.1% | 43.2 | 1,387,834 |
| 23 | Nevada | 49.6% | 38.9 | 3,141,000 |
| 24 | Nebraska | 49.8% | 37.1 | 1,965,926 |
| 25 | Montana | 49.3% | 40.2 | 1,105,072 |
| 26 | Missouri | 50.7% | 38.9 | 6,168,181 |
| 27 | Mississippi | 51.5% | 38.4 | 2,951,438 |
| 28 | Minnesota | 49.9% | 38.6 | 5,713,716 |
| 29 | Michigan | 50.4% | 40.1 | 10,051,595 |
| 30 | Massachusetts | 51.1% | 40 | 6,992,395 |
| 31 | Maryland | 51.3% | 39.3 | 6,170,738 |
| 32 | Maine | 50.8% | 44.8 | 1,377,400 |
| 33 | Louisiana | 51.0% | 37.8 | 4,621,025 |
| 34 | Kentucky | 50.5% | 39.1 | 4,510,725 |
| 35 | Kansas | 49.8% | 37.2 | 2,937,569 |
| 36 | Iowa | 49.9% | 38.6 | 3,195,937 |
| 37 | Indiana | 50.4% | 38 | 6,811,752 |
| 38 | Illinois | 50.6% | 38.9 | 12,692,653 |
| 39 | Idaho | 49.7% | 37.1 | 1,893,296 |
| 40 | Hawaii | 49.7% | 40.6 | 1,445,635 |
| 41 | Georgia | 51.2% | 37.4 | 10,822,590 |
| 42 | Florida | 50.9% | 42.6 | 21,928,881 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | 52.4% | 34.9 | 672,079 |
| 44 | Delaware | 51.5% | 41.5 | 1,005,872 |
| 45 | Connecticut | 50.9% | 41.2 | 3,598,348 |
| 46 | Colorado | 49.4% | 37.5 | 5,810,774 |
| 47 | California | 50.0% | 37.6 | 39,242,785 |
| 48 | Arkansas | 50.7% | 38.4 | 3,032,651 |
| 49 | Arizona | 50.1% | 38.8 | 7,268,175 |
| 50 | Alaska | 47.5% | 35.6 | 733,971 |
| 51 | Alabama | 51.5% | 39.3 | 5,054,253 |
Methodology
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
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Frequently Asked Questions
District of Columbia has the highest female population percentage at 52.4%, according to Census ACS 2023 data. Alabama and Mississippi round out the top three.
Alaska has the lowest female population percentage at 47.5%. Wyoming is second-lowest at 48.8%.
The median across all 51 states is 50.4%. Note that the national median and the state-level median are calculated differently — the state median represents the midpoint when all states are ranked.
This data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates published by the US Census Bureau. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides the most comprehensive demographic data available between decennial censuses.
Rankings are based on the latest available Census ACS data (currently 2023 5-Year estimates). The Census Bureau releases new ACS data annually, typically in September. Our data was last updated on April 12, 2026.
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.