Female headed households in Malawi
Malawi: Female headed households was 25.6% in 2017. ▲ Rising
Female headed households in Malawi, 1992–2017
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 Malawi is 25.6%, measured in 2017.
That represents a change of down 16.3% on the previous year and up 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female headed households in Malawi peaked at 30.6% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 22.4%, in 2014.
That places Malawi 18th out of 34 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.
Female headed households in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of households with a female head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 24.6% | — |
| 2000 | 26.6% | +8.1% |
| 2004 | 24.7% | -7.1% |
| 2010 | 28.1% | +13.8% |
| 2012 | 27.8% | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 22.4% | -19.4% |
| 2016 | 30.6% | +36.6% |
| 2017 | 25.6% | -16.3% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 25.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25.6%, 1.0× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 25.6% is above the median for low income countries, which is 25.1%, 1.0× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 24.6% | 24.6% | 24.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 25.6% | 24.7% | 26.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 26.9% | 22.4% | 30.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 856.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,399 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.61 % 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 0.0714 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.63 % 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 Malawi?
- Female headed households in Malawi was 25.6% in 2017, according to DHS API, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program.
- What is the highest female headed households recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 30.6% in 2016.
- What is the lowest female headed households recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.4% in 2014.
- How does Malawi rank for female headed households?
- Malawi ranks 18th out of 34 countries with data for 2017.
- Is female headed households rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malawi 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.