WORLD – Women’s health accounted for only 6% of the $2.87 trillion invested privately in healthcare between 2020 and 2025, despite women representing nearly half of the global population, according to a new report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
The “Women’s Health Investment Outlook: 6% of Funding for Nearly 50% of the Population – Not Just a Gap, but Untapped White Space,” published in January 2026, examines private-sector investment in women’s health and introduces the Women’s Health Investment Index to assess funding patterns, identify underfunded areas and highlight emerging market opportunities.
Investment Remains Heavily Concentrated
The report finds that investment in women’s health remains concentrated in a limited number of areas. Reproductive health, women’s cancers and maternal health account for around 80% of funding events and approximately 90% of identified capital.
Meanwhile, several conditions affecting millions of women remain significantly underfunded. Menopause, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis and menstrual health collectively receive less than 2% of funding, according to the report.
Investment is also concentrated at the early stages of company development. About 50% of investments in women’s health-specific companies were made at the pre-seed or seed stage, compared with 32% across healthcare more broadly.
Fertility Market Highlights Growth Potential
The report identifies fertility care as an example of the potential for women’s health markets to scale.
The global assisted reproductive technology market was valued at approximately $13 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $19 billion by 2029. However, the report notes that only 24% of infertile couples currently have access to the full range of fertility care, highlighting a significant gap between market potential and access to services.
Geographically, investment is also uneven. Women’s health funding is concentrated largely in North America and Europe, while low- and middle-income countries remain under-represented despite substantial unmet health needs.
Six Emerging Investment Opportunities
The report identifies six areas with strong potential for future investment:
Women’s cancer therapeutics
Virtual women’s healthcare
Remote maternal monitoring
Women-focused mental health
Women-first longevity services
Metabolic-health wearables
Women’s cancer therapeutics represent the largest of these opportunities, attracting approximately $119 billion across around 650 transactions between 2020 and 2025. Virtual women’s healthcare is also emerging as a significant market, with an estimated global value of $31 billion.
Calls For Stronger Investment and Evidence
The WEF and BCG argue that closing the women’s health investment gap will require action from investors, healthcare companies, policymakers and regulators.
The report recommends strengthening women-specific health evidence, mobilizing blended capital, modernizing regulation and clinical endpoints, expanding reimbursement, increasing the involvement of established healthcare companies and improving transparency around investment returns.
The findings suggest that the underinvestment in women’s health is not only a healthcare challenge but also represents a potentially significant untapped economic and investment opportunity. The report argues that addressing persistent gaps in research, financing and access could help build a more mature and sustainable women’s health market.
