Tell people to envision a stereotypical gamer, and they'll probably picture a teenage boy in a hoodie. But new research says that statistically, the average gamer is more likely to be an adult woman than a boy under the age of 18, Ars Technica reported.

The annual report from the Entertainment Software Association that covers sales, demographic and usage data says that women of 18 years and older make up 36 percent of gamers as measured in the study, while boys under 18 only account for 17 percent of the gaming population.

"People of all ages play video games. There is no longer a 'stereotype game player,' but instead a game player could be your grandparent, your boss, or even your professor," Jason Allaire, an associate professor of psychology at North Carolina State University, said in the report, as quoted by CBS News.

According to ESA measures, males constitute 52 percent of the gaming population. Female gamers have increased to 48 percent from 40 percent in 2010.

Another recent survey found that American female gamers are more likely to spend more time and money on app games compared with males. Termed "casual" games, in-app games are growing in popularity, while gaming on smartphones makes up 44 percent of gaming as measured by the industry.

While the ESA report said that "casual/social game" use rose 55 percent in the last year, it didn't specify how much the increase was influenced by a jump in adult female gamers, Ars Technica noted. 

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