The first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896 saw just 241 athletes feature. During the event, exclusively male athletes took part. Over the next 125 years, the overall number of competitors gradually climbed, along with the number of female athletes taking part. During the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the number of female Olympians peaked at 5,457, however, the share of women taking part in the Olympics hit a record high during the Paris 2024 Games, when near parity was achieved.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Number of male and female athletes participating at the Summer Olympics from 1896 to 2024
This data was compiled from the linked report and with data from each individual event page on the official website for the Olympics. The linked source only provided the figure for the number of female competitors per tournament. Statista subtracted this from the overall number of athletes listed on each event's page.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
Statista. (June 25, 2025). Number of male and female athletes participating at the Summer Olympics from 1896 to 2024 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved March 02, 2026, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1090581/olympics-number-athletes-by-gender-since-1896/
Statista. "Number of male and female athletes participating at the Summer Olympics from 1896 to 2024." Chart. June 25, 2025. Statista. Accessed March 02, 2026. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1090581/olympics-number-athletes-by-gender-since-1896/
Statista. (2025). Number of male and female athletes participating at the Summer Olympics from 1896 to 2024. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: March 02, 2026. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1090581/olympics-number-athletes-by-gender-since-1896/
Statista. "Number of Male and Female Athletes Participating at The Summer Olympics from 1896 to 2024." Statista, Statista Inc., 25 Jun 2025, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1090581/olympics-number-athletes-by-gender-since-1896/
Statista, Number of male and female athletes participating at the Summer Olympics from 1896 to 2024 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1090581/olympics-number-athletes-by-gender-since-1896/ (last visited March 02, 2026)
Number of male and female athletes participating at the Summer Olympics from 1896 to 2024 [Graph], Statista, June 25, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1090581/olympics-number-athletes-by-gender-since-1896/