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Texas Ranks Among Worst States for Women in 2026
WalletHub study ranks Texas fourth worst overall for women's economic well-being, health care, safety and political representation in 2026.
Published March 8, 2026 at 10:00am by Alexis Simmerman
Texas is one of the worst states in the country for women, according to a new 2026 WalletHub report released ahead of International Women’s Day. The Lone Star State ranked fourth worst overall, ahead of only Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Despite accounting for nearly 51% of the U.S. population and outnumbering men in most states, women experience significant social, economic and political disadvantages. Over two-thirds of all minimum wage workers in the country are women, according to the National Women’s Law Center. Women are also severely underrepresented in nearly all levels of today’s politics, only holding 26% of Senate seats and 29.4% of seats in the House of Representatives — and these are all-time highs for the U.S.
“Despite improvements the U.S. has made over the years, women still lag behind men when it comes to economic prospects, executive positions and political representation,” WalletHub analyst Milvionne Chery Copeland said. “On top of tackling these important issues, the best states for women also ensure that they have access to high-quality health care, receive the same educational opportunities as men, and live in safe communities.”
WalletHub compared all 50 states and Washington, D.C., across 25 indicators of women’s economic, social and political well-being.
Texas performed especially poorly in several key categories:
- Second worst for women’s economic and social well-being
- 44th overall for women’s health care and safety
- Highest female uninsured rate in the nation
WalletHub found Texas’ female uninsured rate was eight times higher than Massachusetts, which ranked best in that category. The report also found Texas had the fourth-lowest share of women who voted in the 2024 presidential election.
How does Texas compare nationally?
The bottom 10 states for women in 2026 were:
- Louisiana
- Oklahoma
- Arkansas
- Texas
- Alabama
- Wyoming
- South Carolina
- West Virginia
- Mississippi
- Idaho
By contrast, the top-ranked states were:
- Massachusetts
- District of Columbia
- Maine
- Minnesota
- Maryland
- Vermont
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- New York
- Oregon
WalletHub noted that Democratic-leaning states tended to rank higher overall. The average ranking for blue states was 12, compared to 35.03 for red states.
10 best, worst states for women’s economic, social well-being
| Rank | Best | Worst |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | Louisiana |
| 2 | District of Columbia | Texas |
| 3 | Maryland | Oklahoma |
| 4 | Minnesota | Arkansas |
| 5 | Massachusetts | Alabama |
| 6 | Oregon | Wyoming |
| 7 | Vermont | South Carolina |
| 8 | Wisconsin | Utah |
| 9 | Hawaii | Idaho |
| 10 | Iowa | Florida |
10 best, worst states for women’s health care, safety
| Rank | Best | Worst |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | Oklahoma |
| 2 | New York | Arkansas |
| 3 | Connecticut | Mississippi |
| 4 | New Jersey | West Virginia |
| 5 | Vermont | Tennessee |
| 6 | Minnesota | Alabama |
| 7 | District of Columbia | Wyoming |
| 8 | Hawaii | Texas |
| 9 | Rhode Island | Nevada |
| 10 | Maryland | Georgia |
When is International Women's Day in 2026?
International Women's Day is always celebrated on March 8, which falls on a Sunday this year. It was officially recognized by the United Nations in 1977, but its origins trace back to labor strikes in the U.S. in 1908 and in Russia in 1917. Today, the global observance celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women while also lobbying for greater gender parity.
March 8, 2026