India, July 3 -- Vanguard's new 2026 How America Saves report shows women are better at saving for retirement but still have less money in their retirement accounts. The report studied nearly 5 million retirement savers across more than 1,300 workplace retirement plans in the US.

In 2025, the average 401(k) balance for men was $194,597. The average 401(k) balance for women was $146,476, much lower than men's average. Even though women have lower account balances, they actually show better retirement saving habits than men. Women are more likely to join their company's retirement plan when they earn a similar income as men, said Jeff Clark, Head of Defined Contribution Research at Vanguard.

Women also save a slightly higher percentage of...