Female headed households in Mali

Mali: Female headed households was 8.2% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
8.2%
Change on year
down 52.9%
World rank
34th
of 34 countries
All-time high
17.4%
in 2018
All-time low
5.3%
in 2015
Years of data
7
1996–2021

Female headed households in Mali, 1996–2021

57.51012.51517.51996200820211996: 8.3 % of households with a female head2001: 11.3 % of households with a female head2006: 12.3 % of households with a female head2013: 9.3 % of households with a female head2015: 5.3 % of households with a female head2018: 17.4 % of households with a female head2021: 8.2 % of households with a female head

Source: DHS API, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program. Measured in % of households with a female head.

Analysis

Mali recorded 8.2% for female headed households in 2021.

That represents a change of down 52.9% on the previous year and down 11.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female headed households in Mali peaked at 17.4% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 5.3%, in 2015.

That places Mali 34th out of 34 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Female headed households in Mali, year by year

Annual values for Female headed households (% of households with a female head) in Mali, 1996 to 2021.
Year % of households with a female head Change
1996 8.3%
2001 11.3% +36.1%
2006 12.3% +8.8%
2013 9.3% -24.4%
2015 5.3% -43.0%
2018 17.4% +228.3%
2021 8.2% -52.9%

Mali compared with similar countries

  • Mali's 8.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25.6%, 32% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
  • Mali's 8.2% is below the median for low income countries, which is 25.1%, 33% of the median. (10 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 8.3% 8.3% 8.3% 1
2000s 11.8% 11.3% 12.3% 2
2010s 10.7% 5.3% 17.4% 3
2020s 8.2% 8.2% 8.2% 1

Countries ranked near Mali

  1. 31 Egypt 12.9% compare
  2. 32 Niger 12.8% compare
  3. 33 Jordan 12.2% compare

See the full ranking of 34 places →

More health data for Mali

All data for Mali →

Frequently asked questions

What is female headed households in Mali?
Female headed households in Mali was 8.2% in 2021, according to DHS API, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program.
What is the highest female headed households recorded in Mali?
The highest recorded value was 17.4% in 2018.
What is the lowest female headed households recorded in Mali?
The lowest recorded value was 5.3% in 2015.
How does Mali rank for female headed households?
Mali ranks 34th out of 34 countries with data for 2021.
Is female headed households rising or falling in Mali?
Over the last ten years it is down 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Mali 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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Female headed households in Mali. Statizoid, drawing on DHS API, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/female-headed-households-percent-of-households-with-a-female-head/mali/

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About this data

Indicator
Female headed households (% of households with a female head)
Unit
% of households with a female head
Source
DHS API, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
34 places, 236 data points, 1990–2023
Last refreshed

Female headed households refers to the percentage of households that are headed by females.