Facts and Statistics
Women are the fastest growing group in the Veteran population
Download the Infographic (PDF)
More than 2.1 million women Veterans live in the U.S. today
In 2000, women Veterans were just 4% of the Veteran population. But by 2040, they are projected to make up 18% of all Veterans, making them the fastest growing group of Veterans. The median age of women Veterans was 52 in 2023. Approximately 22.5% were 65 or older, and 2.2% were 85 or older.
Source: https://www.va.gov/VETDATA/docs/Demographics/New_Vetpop_Model/1L_VetPop2023_National_NCVAS.xlsx
Women Veterans have served across all military branches and divisions
The number of women Veterans in the military is expected to continue to grow across all branches. Women in military service in 2023:
- Army: 17.7%
- Marines: 9.7%
- Navy: 20.9%
- Air Force/Space Force: 21.5%
- Selected Reserves: 21.9%
Between fiscal years (FYs) 2000 and 2023, the total percentage of women Veterans increased from 6.3% to 11.3% or 2.1 million of the total Veteran population in the United States. By 2043, 2.2 million women are projected to make up 17.2% of all living Veterans.
In 2023, about 930,000 women Veterans were enrolled in VA health care compared to over 8.0 million men. The number of women enrolled represents 45.0% of all women Veterans in FY 2023, while the percentage is 50.5% among men Veterans. Not all Veterans who enroll in the health care system become health care users. Approximately 650,000 women Veterans sought VA medical care in 2023, which is 70.0% of women enrollees.
Source: https://www.data.va.gov/stories/s/wci3-yrsv
Women Veterans are racially and ethnically diverse
In 2020, 43% of the women who used VHA health services belonged to a racial or ethnic minority group.
In 2023, 68.6% (1.4 million) of women Veterans were White, 20.3% (420,000) were Black or African American, and 10.3% (213,000) were Hispanic or Latino of any race. By 2043, these percentages are projected to change slightly to 66.5%, 20.5%, and 12.8%, respectively.
Source: https://www.data.va.gov/stories/s/wci3-yrsv
Download the Infographic (PDF)
VA Resources for Women
- Women Veterans Call Center: 855-VA-WOMEN
- Veteran Crisis Hotline: 988 (press 1)
- Caregiver Support Line: 855-260-3274
- VA Benefits Hotline: 1-800-827-1000
For the latest statistics about the Veteran population demographics, visit the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics.
Women Veterans Health Care Videos Women Veterans Health Care Outreach Posters If you have questions or can't find what you're looking for, you can call, text, or chat online with the Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC) at 855-829-6636 to get help and find available resources and services in your area. Trained women representatives can also: WVCC representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET.
The Women Veterans Call Center is your guide to women's health
