Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of the common degenerative joint diseases, which is more common in the middle-aged and elderly population. It shows significant gender differences, with a significantly higher incidence rate in women than in men, seriously affecting the quality of life of patients. However, there are few research reports on the correlation between gender differences and the incidence of KOA both domestically and internationally. Therefore, this article will summarize and analyze the potential causes of gender differences related to the incidence of KOA from five aspects: hormone levels, anatomical biomechanical characteristics, genes, obesity, and exercise-muscle factors. Through a comprehensive review of research progress, the aim is to provide a theoretical basis for gender based personalized treatment of KOA in clinical practice.