Closing the financial inclusion gender gap

Research from Aberdeen shows that 18% of women in the UK have 'very good' financial literacy, compared with 41% of men. [1]

Further research, funded by the Aberdeen Group Charitable Trust, from a survey of over 5,000 UK households released by the University of Bristol's Personal Finance Research Centre, shows that 35% of women report high confidence in making financial decisions, compared with 49% of men. [2]

Confidence with numbers mirrors this gap with 62% of men highly confident working with numbers vs 51% of women.

Outside of the data, the circumstances that women typically experience - such as having a longer life expectancy, career breaks and pay disparities - contribute to the financial inclusion gender gap. [3]

Financial advice gap

Aberdeen research shows that access to professional financial advice significantly improves financial literacy scores for women - 28% of women receiving financial advice reach "very good" literacy scores vs 15% of unadvised women.

Nonetheless, the data shows that women are less likely to take financial advice (10% vs 15% of men).

"For too long, outdated narratives have misrepresented the connection between women and wealth, which has far less to do with fundamental differences in risk tolerance or capability, and far more to do with structural, economic reasons. But our research suggests that access to advice can make a real difference."

Verona Kenny, Chief Distribution Officer - Adviser

Making financial conversations accessible

Complex historical factors around women's perceived role in household financial decision-making may also have shaped how financial service providers have positioned themselves.

Mandy Rawlinson Head of UK & EMEA Regional Management, noted that when information is clear and relatable, women will engage with the solutions that meet their needs.

Mandy said that women are often disciplined, long-term investors that focus on long-term outcomes vs short-term market noise.

"The issue isn't that women lack the ability to invest, it's that the industry hasn't always made the conversation accessible."

Mandy Rawlinson Head of UK & EMEA Regional Management

Debunking myths

Some common myths regarding 'typical' female investors have been debunked by interactive investor (ii), which found that women who make their own financial investment decisions with ii have consistently recorded strong performance on their platform.

Camilla Esmund, Senior Manager, interactive investor, has spoken about these myths and explains the underlying causes of the gap between men's and women's wealth, and how to close it on the ii Women's wealth & investing hub.

"It is vital that we help inspire and empower women to take control of their financial futures."

Camilla Esmund, Senior Manager - interactive investor

Culture and data gap

In the context of the UK's wider investment culture, the focus on property over long-term market investments can reinforce the gender gap.

For a long time, Britons have favoured property investment as a tool to deliver returns over investing in long-term market assets such as stocks, shares and funds. This allocation is low compared with many European and global counterparts. In the US, for example, households allocate almost four times more to investments.

This research gives insights into broad groups and their investment behaviour, but a lack of clear data segmented into gender groups makes targeted action for women more difficult.

Work on the ground

Confidence in investing is another part of the wider issue that disproportionately strengthens outcomes for women, and learning financial literacy from a young age can help.

Through the Aberdeen Group Charitable Trust's partnerships with charities like Learning with Parents, children are learning to develop practical money skills to build financial resilience.

Building knowledge at an early age can help avoid the gap widening as women progress through education and employment.

Aberdeen research underscores the impact of financial literacy, with women who score 'very good' holding median pension pots of £62,500 - more than three times the £17,500 held by those with 'very poor' financial literacy.

As the UK seeks to build a nation of savers and investors, helping women access information, tools and advice that align with their financial realities will play an important role.

The evidence shows that when women are given the right foundations, outcomes improve - for individuals, households and the wider economy.

[1] Aberdeen used the 'big three' financial literacy questions, developed by, and with kind permission of, the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Centre. Sample size: 3,000 UK adults, nationally representative, of which 382, 13%, were taking financial advice between November 10-20 2025. Source: Opinium Research.

[2] Financial Wellbeing Tracker report

[3] Women and Retirement Report 2025