Recent data from the second quarter of 2023 shows that there are an estimated 252 million women entrepreneurs worldwide

Just in 2023, nearly 50% of women said they started a new business compared to men who accounted for 44% of new business ownership.

In this article, we’re going to answer the question: “How many female entrepreneurs are there worldwide,” and more data and statistics you need to know about this topic.

Key Statistics

  • Out of 582 million total worldwide entrepreneurs, 252 million are women.
  • 2019 data revealed that in the United States alone, there were roughly 13 million women-owned businesses. 
  • 46% of private Ghana businesses are owned by women.
  • California, USA accounts for the biggest proportion of female-owned businesses at 1.3 million.
  • Only 25% of women apply for business financing during the beginning process of starting a business.
  • In the UK, more females and minorities are starting microbusinesses. 
  • Over the past two years, the number of female-owned businesses has seen a rise of 114%.
  • 19% of all women-owned American businesses are owned by African American women.
  • 62% of female business owners are aged 40 to 59.
  • 88% of female business owners earn less than $100,000 per year.

How Many Female Entrepreneurs Are There Worldwide?

How Many Female Entrepreneurs Are There Worldwide?

1. Out of 582 million total worldwide entrepreneurs, 252 million are women.

Out of the total estimated 582 million global entrepreneurs, 252 million are women.

So, there are 252 million women-owned businesses globally, which is just 39 million shy of half of the total number of all entrepreneurs on the planet.

The growth of women-run businesses has occurred over the past decade.

(Search Logistics)

2. 2019 data revealed that in the United States alone, there were roughly 13 million women-owned businesses. 

Not only were there 13 million female-owned businesses in 2019 in the United States alone, more than 5.5 million of this number were said to be run by women in minority groups.

That figure represents nearly half of the women-owned businesses in the United States in 2019.

That’s significant. 

(Search Logistics)

3. 46% of private Ghana businesses are owned by women.

Ghana is a country located in West Africa.

This country is a developing area that consists of a lower-middle income economy among its over 33 million people.

That said, you should know that Ghana has the third highest proportion of female-owned businesses on the African continent.

Women own nearly half of the privately owned businesses in Ghana.

(Context News)

4. California, USA accounts for the biggest proportion of female-owned businesses at 1.3 million.

In the United States of America, California is where the highest proportion of women-owned businesses are found at 1.3 million female-owned businesses.

Also, Texas has over 860,000 female-owned businesses within its borders.

While the United States isn’t the only country with a high percentage of women-owned businesses, this data is significant. 

(Legaljobs)

5. Only 25% of women apply for business financing during the beginning process of starting a business.

Only 25% of women apply for business financing during the beginning process of starting a business.

At the beginning of opening a business, a mere quarter of female entrepreneurs request any kind of startup capital.

This represents only one of every four business applications for a startup is requested by a female.

Moreover, women apply for $35,000 less funding than male entrepreneurs on average. 

(TechReport)

6. In the UK, more females and minorities are starting microbusinesses. 

Looking at other countries and regions, the UK has female entrepreneurs opening microbusiness.

Likewise, minorities in the UK are doing the same thing.

For reference, a microbusiness is one that employs fewer than 10 employees.

Moreover, out of the 2.3 million UK microbusinesses, nearly 40% are operated by women.

(World Economic Forum) 

7. Over the past two years, the number of female-owned businesses has seen a rise of 114%.

In the last 20 years, there’s been an increase of 114% in women-owned businesses in the United States.

What’s more is that this figure is still growing.

In fact, around 849 new businesses are started by women each day in America. 

(Luisa Zhou)

8. 19% of all women-owned American businesses are owned by African American women.

Yes. Minority women are gaining ground in America, especially in terms of women-owned businesses.

Statistics show that 19% of all the women-owned businesses in America are owned by African American women.

Another 15% of women-owned businesses are women Latina owned and 9% are Asian American owned. 

(Search Logistics)

9. 62% of female business owners are aged 40 to 59.

A significant number of women from 40 to 59 years old are business owners.

They account for 62% of all women-owned businesses.

It stands to reason since roughly 80% of women who own businesses are college educated.

Since it takes time to establish a successful business, only about 30% of them are not even 40 years old. 

(Legaljobs)

10. 88% of female business owners earn less than $100,000 per year.

88% of female business owners earn less than $100,000 per year.

A successful business may be measured by its net worth, it doesn’t have to be that way.

Women business owners can hold there own on less than $100,000 a year in earnings and still be successful.

A whopping 88% of female business owners are earning less than $100,000 per year.

Only 1.7% of women in business make over $1 million annually. 

(TechReport)

FAQs

Who was the world’s first female entrepreneur?

Madam C.J. Walker, real name Sarah Breedlove, was the world’s very first female entrepreneur.

Sarah was successful and earn a fortune with her company, the Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company. 

Her company consisted of a line of hair care and cosmetics designed specifically for women of color.

Sarah Breedlove is also in the Guinness Book of World Records as the first self-made female millionaire in the United States.

Who is the world’s most powerful woman?

Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor as voted the most powerful women on the globe years ago and has maintained that title for 9 consecutive years.

She also won this pretigious title 14 times in total. 

Did you know that this is the highest ranking achievement made by a women ever?

Merkel has been Germany’s Chancellor since 2005 and between 2000 and 2008 she served as leader of the Christian Democratic Union.

She is one powerful woman.

Who is the reigning richest women businessperson?

The richest woman entrepreneur on the globe is Zhong Huijuan.

She happens to be Hansoh Pharmeceuticals chairwoman.

This pharmaceutical company is also the biggest maker of psychotropic drugs in China.

Furthermore, she was at the top of the world’s richest self-made women list in 2020.

Her net worth at that time was $15.1 billion.

How many people have women entrepreneurs employed?

Over the years, there has been a recorded 9 million people employed by female business owners.

Moreover, women of color have creaed over 2 million jobs.

Therefore, women overall significantly contribute to employment all over the globe.

What does it take to be a successful women entrepreneur?

Succesful women entrepreneurs have the following traits:
1. Enough confidence to take risks.
2. A strong passion to succeed.
3. A solid network of contacts.
4. Good communication skills.
5. Good relationship building skills.
6. The ability to be an effective leader.
7. They are creative and good problem-solvers.
8. They are willing to constantly learn and to develop new skills. 

Conclusion

Now you know that the world has 252 million female entrepreneurs, including minorities. In America alone, there are over 12 million female business owners. 

We have found out that most female business owners don’t even earn $100,000 per year and only a very small percentage of under 2% earn over $1 million annually.

Sources

LegaljobsWorld Economic ForumLuisa Zhou
Context NewsSearch LogisticsThe Tech Report