The bar and line charts illustrate the number of male and female participants in the Olympics from 1924 to 2012, as well as the total number of athletes in those years.
Overall, there was a steady increase in Olympic participation over time. While male athletes consistently outnumbered female athletes, the gap narrowed significantly by 2012, indicating rapid growth in women’s involvement.
In 1924, the total number of participants was approximately 3,000, with men making up the vast majority. Female participation was very low, fewer than 500. By 1952, both male and female figures rose slightly, but men still dominated the event.
The most notable growth occurred from 1984 to 2012. In 1984, the total number of athletes reached around 6,000, and female numbers began rising sharply. By 2012, total participation nearly doubled to about 11,000, with over 5,000 women and around 6,000 men competing.
