The gender wealth gap in the UK is widest in pensions: among people aged 55 to 59, women held a median of £81,000 in private pension wealth against £156,000 for men, a gap of 48% in the 2020 to 2022 period (DWP, 2020 to 2022, published 21 July 2025).
This page brings together the main official statistics on how wealth is divided between women and men in the UK, drawn from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It sets out the pension gap, the wider individual wealth gap, and the pay gap that sits beneath both, then offers some hedged analysis of what the figures may mean for people thinking about wills, inheritance tax and later-life planning. Every figure carries its source and reference period at the point of use. Tax figures are current as at July 2026 and are subject to change.
Key figures at a glance
The headline numbers span pensions, total wealth and pay. The single largest measured gap is in private pension wealth around normal minimum pension age, at 48% for those aged 55 to 59 in 2020 to 2022 (DWP, 2020 to 2022). The table below lists each statistic with its named source and period.
| Measure | Figure | Source & period |
|---|---|---|
| Gender pensions gap, private pensions, age 55–59 | 48% | DWP, 2020 to 2022 |
| Median private pension wealth, age 55–59 (women) | £81,000 | DWP, 2020 to 2022 |
| Median private pension wealth, age 55–59 (men) | £156,000 | DWP, 2020 to 2022 |
| Modelled individual total wealth, women vs men | ~£101,000 lower | ONS, Apr 2018 to Mar 2020 |
| Gender pay gap, all employees | 12.8% | ONS, April 2025 |
| Gender pay gap, full-time employees | 6.9% | ONS, April 2025 |
| Median household wealth, Great Britain (context) | £293,700 | ONS, Apr 2020 to Mar 2022 |
Figures are official statistics and reflect the reference periods shown; ONS and DWP estimates are subject to revision. Pension and wealth figures are measured at the individual level except where the household measure is noted.
How the pension gap changes across the life course
The gender pension gap tends to be narrower for younger workers and wider in mid-life. In 2020 to 2022 the gap in median private pension wealth ran from 22% for those aged 25 to 29 to 52% for those aged 45 to 49, easing slightly to 48% at ages 55 to 59 (DWP, 2020 to 2022, published 21 July 2025). The pattern broadly tracks the years when caring responsibilities and part-time work are most common.
| Age band | Gender pensions gap (private pensions) |
|---|---|
| 25 to 29 | 22% |
| 45 to 49 | 52% |
| 55 to 59 | 48% |
Source: DWP, Gender Pensions Gap in Private Pensions: 2020 to 2022 (published 21 July 2025). The gap is the percentage difference between female and male uncrystallised median private pension wealth. An earlier release put the gap at around 35% near normal minimum pension age in 2018 to 2020 (DWP, 2018 to 2020), though age-band definitions differ, so the two releases are not directly comparable.
Median private pension wealth for women and men aged 55 to 59 (DWP, 2020 to 2022).
The wider wealth gap
Beyond pensions, official modelling points to a broad individual wealth gap. After controlling for age, education, employment and other characteristics, mean individual total wealth was estimated at around £101,000 lower for women than men in Great Britain (ONS, April 2018 to March 2020, published 7 January 2022). For context, median household wealth in Great Britain was £293,700 (ONS, April 2020 to March 2022).
Total wealth in these surveys combines four components: property wealth, private pension wealth, financial wealth and physical wealth. Pension wealth is often the largest single element for households approaching retirement, which is part of why the pension gap weighs so heavily on the overall picture. Because much wealth is held and reported at household level, individual-level gaps can be harder to measure precisely, and the ONS flags added uncertainty in some estimates (see Sources and methodology below).
The pay gap that feeds the wealth gap
Lower pay compounds over a working life into lower savings and pension contributions. The gender pay gap among all employees was 12.8% in April 2025, and 6.9% among full-time employees, both down slightly on the previous year (ONS, April 2025, published 23 October 2025). The pay gap is only part of the story, but it helps explain why wealth and pension gaps open up over decades rather than all at once.
What the numbers mean
Read together, these statistics suggest the gender wealth gap is less a single number than a gap that widens with age and concentrates in pensions. The pension gap grows through mid-life and remains close to half by the late fifties (DWP, 2020 to 2022), the years when many households make their most consequential financial decisions.
In our reading of the data, three points stand out. First, because pension wealth is so large and so unevenly held, it can shape retirement security and what eventually passes to the next generation. Second, women's longer average life expectancy can mean a greater likelihood of living alone in later life and of meeting the cost of care, which may place more weight on their own resources. Third, the gaps are averages: individual circumstances vary widely, and many women hold more wealth than the typical man in their age group. These are observations from published statistics, not predictions about any individual, and the underlying surveys are periodically revised.
What the gaps can mean for estate planning
Wealth and pension gaps can affect how couples and individuals think about wills, tax allowances and later-life plans. None of the points below is advice or a recommendation for any particular person; they are general information, and the right approach depends on individual circumstances that many people choose to discuss with a qualified professional.
- Spousal transfers and unused allowances. Transfers between spouses and civil partners are generally exempt from inheritance tax, and any unused nil-rate band can transfer to the survivor (gov.uk/inheritance-tax, as at July 2026, subject to change). Where wealth is unevenly held within a couple, some people find it worth understanding how those allowances work. Our Inheritance Tax Explained guide covers the current thresholds.
- Wills and unmarried partners. Under the intestacy rules that apply when someone dies without a valid will, unmarried partners inherit nothing (gov.uk, intestacy rules, as at July 2026). For cohabiting couples, a valid will is often the only way to provide for a surviving partner.
- Pensions and death benefits. Private pensions usually sit outside the estate and pass under scheme rules and any nomination, so keeping nominations current can matter. Pensions are regulated products, and this is general educational information only; many people discuss their options with an FCA-authorised financial adviser.
- Later-life and care costs. Longer life expectancy can raise the likelihood of meeting later-life care costs, and planning here is worth approaching carefully. Deliberately giving away assets to reduce care fees can be challenged by a local authority under the deliberate deprivation of assets rules, so this is about planning for and limiting the impact of care fees, discussed with a qualified professional, rather than avoiding them.
For the wider picture, see our estate planning guide and our analysis of wealth inequality across the UK.
Sources and methodology
Every statistic on this page comes from a named official source and was checked against the source before publication. The pension figures use median uncrystallised private pension wealth, the individual wealth figure is a modelled estimate controlling for other characteristics, and the pay gap uses median hourly earnings excluding overtime.
- Gender pensions gap, 2020 to 2022 (48% at 55–59; age-band breakdown; £81,000 vs £156,000): DWP, published 21 July 2025.
- Gender pensions gap, 2018 to 2020 (around 35% near normal minimum pension age): DWP, updated 22 July 2025.
- Individual total wealth by characteristic (~£101,000 modelled gap): ONS, April 2018 to March 2020, published 7 January 2022.
- Household total wealth (median £293,700): ONS, April 2020 to March 2022, published 24 January 2025.
- Gender pay gap (12.8% all employees; 6.9% full-time): ONS, April 2025, published 23 October 2025.
- Inheritance tax allowances and intestacy: gov.uk/inheritance-tax and gov.uk intestacy rules, as at July 2026, subject to change.
Methodology note: the pension and wealth estimates draw on the ONS Wealth and Assets Survey. The ONS has reported that accreditation of the Wealth and Assets Survey was suspended from Round 8, reflecting quality concerns and lower response rates, with particular uncertainty around some property and London estimates. Statistics may be revised in later releases, so figures should be read with their reference periods in mind.
Frequently asked questions
What is the gender wealth gap in the UK?
It describes the difference in wealth held by women and men. Official modelling estimated mean individual total wealth at around £101,000 lower for women than men in Great Britain (ONS, April 2018 to March 2020). The gap is widest in private pensions and tends to grow through mid-life.
How big is the gender pension gap?
Among people aged 55 to 59, the gap in median private pension wealth was 48% in 2020 to 2022, with women holding £81,000 against £156,000 for men (DWP, 2020 to 2022, published 21 July 2025). The gap is generally narrower for younger workers and wider in mid-life.
Why does the gender wealth gap exist?
Several factors contribute, and the data does not isolate a single cause. The gender pay gap was 12.8% among all employees in April 2025 (ONS, April 2025), and part-time work and career breaks linked to caring can reduce pension building over time, according to the DWP analysis. These effects tend to compound across a working life.
Does the wealth gap affect inheritance tax?
It can shape how allowances are used within a couple, though it does not change the rules. Transfers between spouses and civil partners are generally exempt, and unused nil-rate band can transfer to the survivor (gov.uk/inheritance-tax, as at July 2026, subject to change). Where wealth is unevenly held, many people find it worth understanding how the allowances interact.
Is the gender wealth gap the same across the UK?
Not exactly. The wealth and pension statistics here cover Great Britain, and the ONS notes the pay and wealth patterns vary by region, with wider gaps in some higher-wealth areas (ONS, April 2018 to March 2020). Northern Ireland is generally covered by separate datasets, and succession law also differs across the UK nations.
Where can I check these statistics myself?
Each figure links to its primary source in the Sources and methodology section above. The pension figures come from the DWP Gender Pensions Gap statistics, the wealth figures from the ONS Wealth and Assets Survey, and the pay gap from the ONS annual gender pay gap bulletin. These are updated periodically, so the latest release may show revised numbers.