Female headed households in Kenya
Kenya: Female headed households was 33.9% in 2022. ▬ Flat
Female headed households in Kenya, 1993–2022
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 Kenya is 33.9%, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.4% on the previous year and up 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female headed households in Kenya peaked at 36.1% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 31.0%, in 2020.
Kenya ranks 6th of 34 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Female headed households in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of households with a female head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 32.7% | — |
| 1998 | 31.7% | -3.1% |
| 2003 | 31.7% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 33.9% | +6.9% |
| 2014 | 32.2% | -5.0% |
| 2015 | 36.1% | +12.1% |
| 2020 | 31.0% | -14.1% |
| 2022 | 33.9% | +9.4% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 33.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 26.0%, 1.3× the median. (17 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 33.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25.6%, 1.3× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 32.2% | 31.7% | 32.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 32.8% | 31.7% | 33.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 34.2% | 32.2% | 36.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 32.5% | 31.0% | 33.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More health data for Kenya
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6026 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,119 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 16,059 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 89 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 0.0621 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 Kenya?
- Female headed households in Kenya was 33.9% in 2022, according to DHS API, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program.
- What is the highest female headed households recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 36.1% in 2015.
- What is the lowest female headed households recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.0% in 2020.
- How does Kenya rank for female headed households?
- Kenya ranks 6th out of 34 countries with data for 2022.
- Is female headed households rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Kenya 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.