2019-11-01_National_Geographic_Interactive

Women Men Officers Women Men

1970

27,948

215,971 217,564

1989 2019

Number of women

in the U.S. military

Army

Navy

Air Force

32 women join the Army (36 out of every 100 men join)

30 women join the Navy vs. 24 men

8 women join the Marine Corps vs. 16 men

30 women join the Air Force vs. 24 men

For every 100 women in the U.S. military...

Marine Corps

INFANTRY

Less than two years after

all restrictions were lifted,

some 600 women were

serving in the Army’s

newly opened ground

combat positions, such

as in field artillery. The

number has since grown

fivefold. As of August

2019, 231 women held

once closed positions in

the Marine Corps.

CASUALTIES

Statistics for women
among the dead and
wounded in named
operations began to
be tracked in 2001.

1,208 vs. 58,458

RACIAL MINORITIES

Native Americans,
Alaska natives, African-
Americans, and other
minorities comprise
a large portion of
enlisted women.

41% vs. 26%

HISPANICS

The proportion of
Hispanic women who
serve exceeds both the
men’s share and the
proportion of Hispanic
women in the general
U.S. population.

22% vs. 18%

ADMINISTRATIVE

Women proportionally

hold more administra-

tive jobs, such as clerical

and legal support posi-

tions, than males do.

25% vs. 11%

OFFICERS

The number of female
commissioned officers
is steadily climbing, sur-
passing the proportion
of officers among males.

19% vs. 18% 5% vs. 17%

HIGH PAY GRADE

As women progress

through the ranks, they

are starting to catch up

with men in reaching

higher salary ranges.

10% vs. 12%

GROWING SHARE

Currently there are

100 women in the

U.S. military for every

499 men.

united states

RISING UP THE RANKS

Women have been able to serve in aviation and naval com-

bat since the early 1990s, a period that also saw deep cuts

in personnel as the Cold War ended. Only in 2016 were all

ground combat jobs opened to women; by August 2019,

2,906 women held once restricted Army ground combat jobs.

ALL DATA FOR 2019, EXCEPT HISPANICS (2018), LATEST MONTH AVAILABLE. COAST GUARD DATA NOT INCLUDED. INFANTRY CATEGORY INCLUDES GUN CREWS AND
SEAMANSHIP SPECIALISTS. MONICA SERRANO, NGM STAFF. KELSEY NOWAKOWSKI. SOURCES: DEFENSE MANPOWER DATA CENTER; DEFENSE CASUALTY ANALYSIS SYSTEM;
LORY MANNING, SERVICE WOMEN’S ACTION NETWORK; CENTER FOR A NEW AMERICAN SECURITY