The “gender investment gap” describes a difference in investing behaviour between men and women. Typically, women invest less than men, and the data supports this.
However, there is more to the story. Many of the assumptions we’ve previously made about how women invest, and why they might shy away from it, may be wrong.
Read on to learn why the gender investment gap isn’t as straightforward as you think.
The investment gap remains but women are starting to close it
Recent studies show that there is still a clear gender investment gap.
According to Boring Money, in 2026, there are 11 million male investors, compared with only 7.4 million female investors. The average amount that women invest is £24,000, while men invest £48,000.
These headline figures might suggest that women are simply less focused than men on building wealth, but this is not necessarily true.
In fact, figures from AJ Bell show that in 2023/24, women held 51% of all ISAs. That said, women paid into only 41% of Stocks and Shares ISAs.
So, women are just as interested as men, if not more so, in building wealth for the future. The disparity comes from the fact that women are more likely to hold cash instead of investing, and this could hamper their returns.
It’s also worth noting that the Boring Money research found that the number of female investors increased by 10% in 2026.
Young women are building bigger portfolios than their male counterparts
Age is a differentiator when it comes to investment behaviour.
While there is an overall gender investment gap, young women are building larger portfolios than their male counterparts.
For instance, the AJ Bell research shows that women under the age of 24 had an average of £876 more in their ISAs than men of the same age.
Similarly, research from Lloyds showed that women aged 18 to 25 who invested with the bank had an average portfolio of £14,040. In comparison, men of the same age had an average of £9,450.
The gender investment gap may grow with age as women are more likely to take on care responsibilities
The data shows that young women are building larger portfolios than men, yet the overall gap remains, largely because the disparity in investment between men and women grows with age.
AJ Bell reports that while women under 24 have more in their ISAs, men quickly overtake them, and the gap widens with age. The research shows men’s ISA balances outpace women’s at an average of:
- £2,761 at age 27 – 29
- £4,010 at age 54 – 56
- £5,215 at age 60 – 62.
These figures suggest that, contrary to popular belief, women do have an appetite for investing, but as they get older, various factors make building wealth more difficult.
First, the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the gender pay gap for full-time employees in April 2025 was 6.9%. This rises to 12.8% across all employees as women may be more likely to work part-time.
As such, women may have less disposable income to invest.
Additionally, research from Scottish Widows shows that 58% of women at or near retirement have taken a career break, compared with just 12% of men. This is often because women take on more care responsibilities for children, and this could affect their ability to invest and build wealth for the future.
Indeed, the same research shows that a woman taking a five-year career break at age 35 could have £69,380 less in her pension at retirement than a woman who didn’t take time out of work.
This inequity between men and women where care responsibilities and career breaks are concerned, coupled with the gender pay gap, could explain why the investment gap scales with age.
We can help you build an investment strategy suited to your unique situation and challenges
When discussing the gender investment gap, we often hear that women invest less because they’re concerned about losses or lack knowledge. While these factors may have an impact, the reality is very different.
As you can see, the data suggests that younger women often build larger portfolios than men. It is only once they get older that the gender investment gap takes effect, largely because of the gender pay gap and a disparity in care responsibilities.
Fortunately, these factors don’t need to mean that women invest less than men, provided they’re factored into a wider strategy.
If you’re concerned that the gender investment gap might affect you, we can help you design a tailored investment strategy to build the wealth you need to achieve your goals.
Please contact us at hello@ardentuk.com or call or WhatsApp us on 01904 655330. As an award-winning financial advice company with advisers included in the 2025 VouchedFor Top Rated guide, we can assure you that we’re a bona fide company providing excellent advice and high-quality service.
Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.
All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.
The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.