Female headed households in Benin
Benin: Female headed households was 24.9% in 2018. ▲ Rising
Female headed households in Benin, 1996–2018
Source: DHS API, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program. Measured in % of households with a female head.
Analysis
Benin recorded 24.9% for female headed households in 2018. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of up 10.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female headed households in Benin peaked at 24.9% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 17.5%, in 1996.
Benin ranks 19th of 34 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Female headed households in Benin, year by year
| Year | % of households with a female head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 17.5% | — |
| 2001 | 20.8% | +18.9% |
| 2006 | 22.5% | +8.2% |
| 2012 | 22.9% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 24.9% | +8.7% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 24.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 26.0%, 96% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
- Benin's 24.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25.6%, 97% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.5% | 17.5% | 17.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 21.6% | 20.8% | 22.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 23.9% | 22.9% | 24.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More health data for Benin
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.1 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8458 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,002 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 13,632 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 21 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.21 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0741 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.24 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female headed households in Benin?
- Female headed households in Benin was 24.9% in 2018, according to DHS API, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program.
- What is the highest female headed households recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 24.9% in 2018.
- What is the lowest female headed households recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.5% in 1996.
- How does Benin rank for female headed households?
- Benin ranks 19th out of 34 countries with data for 2018.
- Is female headed households rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from DHS API, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program, published as part of Female headed households (% of households with a female head). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Female headed households refers to the percentage of households that are headed by females.