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Women’s History Month: March 2024
Press Release Number CB24-FF.03
National Women’s History Month honors the successes and sacrifices of U.S. women. It dates to March 8, 1857, when hundreds of women from New York City garment and textile factories rallied to protest harsh working conditions. In 1909, New York City became the site of the nation’s first Women’s Day celebration, a year after 15,000 women there marched to demand shorter working hours, better pay, an end to child labor and the right to vote. More than seven decades later in 1981, Congress set aside the second week of March as National Women’s History Week. Six years later, Congress expanded the week to a month. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we reflect upon the advances women have made, including increased earnings, educational attainment and job opportunities.
The following facts are possible thanks to the invaluable responses to U.S. Census Bureau surveys. We appreciate the public’s cooperation as we measure America’s people, places and economy.
Did You Know?
168 million
The number of females in the United States as of July 1, 2022. There were about 165 million males in the United States as of the same date.
4.2 million
There were about 1.9 million more females age 85 and older (4.2 million) than males (2.3 million) in the United States as of July 1, 2022.
36.8%
In 2022, the percentage of women age 25 and older who had earned bachelor’s degrees or higher compared with 34.5% of men.
80.3 million
The number of females age 16 and older who participated in the civilian labor force in 2022. This comprises 58.6% of females age 16 and older.
82.2%
The percentage of full-time, year-round female workers over age 16 median earnings compared to men’s earnings in 2022.
More Stats
More on Select Occupations
Earnings
Education
Previous Facts for Features
Stats for Stories
America Counts
- What Is the Gender Wage Gap in Your State?
- Gender Pay Gap Widens as Women Age
- Women Making Gains in STEM Occupations but Still Underrepresented
- Teachers Are Among Most Educated, Yet Their Pay Lags
- Unequally Essential: Women and Gender Pay Gap During COVID-19
- Parents Juggle Work and Child Care During Pandemic
- Understanding Equity Through Census Bureau Data
- Cost of Motherhood on Women’s Employment and Earnings
- Women More Likely to Have Multiple Jobs
- College Degree Widens Gender Earnings Gap
- Women More Likely Than Men to Have No Retirement Savings
- Fertility Rates Declined for Younger Women, Increased for Older Women
- Are Women Really Opting Out of Work After They Have Babies?
- The Choices Working Mothers Make
- Shhh...I Make More than My Husband
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The following is a list of observances typically covered by the Census Bureau’s Facts for Features series:
Black (African American) History Month (February)
Women's History Month (March)
Irish-American Heritage Month (March)
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (May)
The Fourth of July (July 4)
Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act (July 26)
Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)
Halloween (Oct. 31)
American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month (November)
Veterans Day (Nov. 11)
Thanksgiving Day/Holiday Season (November-December)
Editor’s note: The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. Facts for Features are customarily released about two months before an observance in order to accommodate magazine production timelines. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office: telephone: 301-763-3030; or e-mail: pio@census.gov.
Profile America's Facts for Features provides statistics related to observances and holidays not covered by Stats for Stories. For observances not listed below, visit our Stats for Stories web page.
Profile America's Stats for Stories provides links to timely story ideas highlighting the Census Bureau's newsworthy statistics that relate to current events, observances, holidays, and anniversaries. The story ideas are intended to assist the media in story mining and producing content for their respective audiences.
Page Last Revised - March 13, 2024
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