Female headed households in India
India: Female headed households was 17.5% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Female headed households in India, 1993–2021
Source: DHS API, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program. Measured in % of households with a female head.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female headed households in India is 17.5%, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is up 21.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female headed households in India peaked at 17.5% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 9.2%, in 1993.
That places India 24th out of 34 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Female headed households in India, year by year
| Year | % of households with a female head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 9.2% | — |
| 1999 | 10.3% | +12.0% |
| 2006 | 14.4% | +39.8% |
| 2016 | 14.6% | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 17.5% | +19.9% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 17.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 26.0%, 67% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.8% | 9.2% | 10.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 14.4% | 14.4% | 14.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 14.6% | 14.6% | 14.6% | 1 |
| 2020s | 17.5% | 17.5% | 17.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
More health data for India
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4372 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,332 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 44,822 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.3809 % 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 0.0372 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5922 % 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 India?
- Female headed households in India was 17.5% in 2021, according to DHS API, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program.
- What is the highest female headed households recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 17.5% in 2021.
- What is the lowest female headed households recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.2% in 1993.
- How does India rank for female headed households?
- India ranks 24th out of 34 countries with data for 2021.
- Is female headed households rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India 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.