Female headed households in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Female headed households was 22.1% in 2019. ▬ Flat
Female headed households in Ethiopia, 2000–2019
Source: DHS API, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program. Measured in % of households with a female head.
Analysis
In 2019, female headed households in Ethiopia stood at 22.1%. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is down 13.0% on the previous year and down 15.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female headed households in Ethiopia peaked at 26.1% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 22.1%, in 2019.
Ethiopia ranks 22nd of 34 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Female headed households in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % of households with a female head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 23.6% | — |
| 2005 | 22.8% | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 26.1% | +14.5% |
| 2016 | 25.4% | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 22.1% | -13.0% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 22.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25.6%, 86% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 22.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 25.1%, 88% of the median. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 23.2% | 22.8% | 23.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 24.5% | 22.1% | 26.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More health data for Ethiopia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9494 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 744.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 19,997 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 148 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0709 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female headed households in Ethiopia?
- Female headed households in Ethiopia was 22.1% in 2019, according to DHS API, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program.
- What is the highest female headed households recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 26.1% in 2011.
- What is the lowest female headed households recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.1% in 2019.
- How does Ethiopia rank for female headed households?
- Ethiopia ranks 22nd out of 34 countries with data for 2019.
- Is female headed households rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.