Female headed households in Ghana
Ghana: Female headed households was 36.6% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
36.6%
Change on year
up 5.2%
World rank
4th
of 34 countries
All-time high
37.1%
in 1993
All-time low
31.4%
in 2016
Years of data
8
1993–2022
Female headed households in Ghana, 1993–2022
Source: DHS API, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program. Measured in % of households with a female head.
Analysis
In 2022, female headed households in Ghana stood at 36.6%.
That represents a change of up 5.2% on the previous year and up 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female headed households in Ghana peaked at 37.1% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 31.4%, in 2016.
Ghana ranks 4th of 34 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Female headed households in Ghana, year by year
| Year | % of households with a female head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 37.1% | — |
| 1998 | 36.6% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 33.8% | -7.7% |
| 2008 | 33.7% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 33.8% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 31.4% | -7.1% |
| 2019 | 34.8% | +10.8% |
| 2022 | 36.6% | +5.2% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 36.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25.6%, 1.4× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 36.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 26.0%, 1.4× the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 36.9% | 36.6% | 37.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 33.8% | 33.7% | 33.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 33.3% | 31.4% | 34.8% | 3 |
| 2020s | 36.6% | 36.6% | 36.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More health data for Ghana
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.37 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6224 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 986.1 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,361 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.5623 % 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 0.06 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.5816 % 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 Ghana?
- Female headed households in Ghana was 36.6% in 2022, according to DHS API, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program.
- What is the highest female headed households recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 37.1% in 1993.
- What is the lowest female headed households recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.4% in 2016.
- How does Ghana rank for female headed households?
- Ghana ranks 4th out of 34 countries with data for 2022.
- Is female headed households rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ghana 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.