Number of licensed drivers in the United States by gender 2020-2021

In 2021, female motorists accounted for just over half of all licensed drivers in the United States, with around 117.6 million female licensees compared to 115.2 million male licensees. The total number of licensed drivers stood at around 232.8 million.

Fewer younger drivers

The share of young drivers in the driving population fell significantly between 2010 and 2020. Under 20-year-olds accounted for about 3.8 percent of total license-holders in 2019, down to under 3.7 percent in 2020. The reason for this is being put to the increased number of drivers in other age cohorts, and also the rising costs of car insurance, which is highest for young male drivers. The rise in insurance premiums on young men should not come as a surprise, as young men are more likely than any other demographic to die at the wheel.

Non-binary gender options

Some federal states issue third gender identities. License-holders can choose between three options: M, F, and X. However, even if more and more states are to accommodate non-binary gender identities, this has yet to become included in national statistics.