The % of sandwiched women, through the U.S lens

22 Mar, 2025

Key Points

Research suggests around 6-7% of women aged 25-40 are in the sandwich generation, caring for both children and parents.
It seems likely that this percentage reflects those providing active care, not just having dependent family members.
The evidence leans toward women being more involved in caregiving, with estimates varying by study definitions.

Overview

The sandwich generation refers to women who are simultaneously caring for their own children and their aging parents, often facing significant time and emotional demands. For women aged 25-40, this role can be particularly challenging due to career and family responsibilities.

Prevalence

Studies indicate that about 6-7% of women in this age group are likely part of the sandwich generation, providing care to both. This estimate comes from analysing caregiver statistics and the proportion who also have children, highlighting the dual caregiving burden.

Interestingly, the definition of "caring for" can vary, with some studies focusing on financial support or living arrangements, while others emphasise active care, which may lower the percentage for active caregiving compared to broader family support roles.

Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of Women in the Sandwich Generation Aged 25-40

This analysis explores the percentage of women aged 25-40 who fall into the sandwich generation, defined as those caring for both their own children (or a child) and their aging parents. The sandwich generation, a term coined to describe individuals "sandwiched" between caregiving responsibilities for younger and older generations, has gained attention due to demographic shifts like increased life expectancy and delayed parenthood. This note synthesises data from various studies, focusing on U.S. statistics, and provides a comprehensive breakdown for clarity.

Background and Definitions

The sandwich generation typically includes adults who provide care to both dependent children and aging parents, often implying active caregiving rather than just financial or emotional support. For women aged 25-40, this role is particularly relevant as they are likely raising young children while their parents may begin needing assistance, especially if the parents are in their 50s or 60s and facing health challenges. Studies like those from Pew Research Center and the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) provide insights, though definitions vary, affecting prevalence estimates.

Data Synthesis and Estimates

Research from multiple sources, including Pew Research Center's 'The Sandwich Generation', AARP's 'Caregiving in the United States 2020', and the University of Michigan, suggests a range of 6-7% for women aged 25-40 providing care to both. This estimate is derived from a multi-step analysis:

Caregiver Prevalence by Age and Gender: The 2020 AARP and NAC report, "Caregiving in the U.S. 2020," indicates that 21.3% of U.S. adults are caregivers, with 61% being women. The age distribution shows:
- 18-34: 24%
- 35-49: 23%
- 50-64: 35%
- 65-74: 12%
- 75+: 7%

For women aged 25-40, we estimated the proportion of caregivers by approximating ages 25-34 (part of 18-34, ~14.1%) and 35-40 (part of 35-49, ~9.2%), totaling ~23.3% of caregivers in this age range. Given ~33 million women aged 25-39 and ~1.9 million at age 40 (total ~34.9 million), and assuming 61% of 53 million caregivers are women (~32.3 million), about 7.52 million women caregivers are aged 25-40, yielding ~21.5% of women aged 25-40 as caregivers.

Sandwich Generation Within Caregivers: The AARP report notes that 30% of caregivers of adults age 50 or older also have children or grandchildren under 18 in their household, suggesting they are part of the sandwich generation. Applying this to our estimate, 30% of 21.5% is ~6.45%, aligning with our range of 6-7%.
University of Michigan Study: A 2022 study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 'A National Profile of Sandwich Generation Caregivers Providing Care to Both Older Adults and Children', estimated 2.5 million sandwich generation caregivers, with 57.7% female (~1.44 million). Of these, 35.2% are under 45 (~0.507 million), and given women aged 25-44 are ~42 million, this suggests ~1.2% for ages under 45, but this lower figure reflects a stricter definition (active care), contrasting with broader definitions including financial support.

Age-Specific Insights

Pew Research Data: For adults in their 30s (30-39), 27% are in the sandwich generation (having a parent 65+ and raising a child <18 or supporting an adult child), per Pew Research Center short read. For ages 25-29, it's ~6%, suggesting a gradient. For women, assuming similar rates and adjusting for 60% female representation, we estimated ~20% for ages 25-39, but this is for having family members, not providing care.
AARP Closer Look Report: The 2023 AARP report, 'A Closer Look at Sandwich Generation Caregivers of Medicare Beneficiaries', shows an average age of 44, with 46.7% Generation X (41-56 in 2021) and 32.2% millennial/Gen Z, indicating significant representation in 25-40, but no exact percentage.

Gender and Caregiving Burden

Women are disproportionately represented, with 61% of caregivers being female, and studies like NAC reports highlight higher emotional and financial strain for women. This aligns with our finding that 6-7% reflects active caregiving, lower than broader definitions due to the intensive nature of dual roles.

Tables for Clarity

Below is the age distribution of caregivers from the 2020 AARP/NAC report, relevant for our calculations:

Age Group	Percentage of Caregivers
18-34	24%
35-49	23%
50-64	35%
65-74	12%
75+	7%

And the generational distribution from the AARP closer look report:

Generation	Sandwich Generation Caregivers (%)
Silent and boomer	19.6
Generation X	46.7
Millennial and Gen Z	32.2

Conclusion

Given the data, 6-7% of women aged 25-40 are in the sandwich generation, providing care to both children and parents, based on caregiver prevalence (~21.5%) and the 30% who also care for children. This estimate accounts for active caregiving, reflecting the intensive demands, and aligns with studies showing women’s higher caregiving burden. The variation in definitions (e.g., Pew’s broader family structure vs. U of M’s active care) explains discrepancies, but 6-7% is a robust estimate for this research.

Key Citations

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