Female headed households in Nigeria
Nigeria: Female headed households was 14.9% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Female headed households in Nigeria, 1990–2021
Source: DHS API, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program. Measured in % of households with a female head.
Analysis
In 2021, female headed households in Nigeria stood at 14.9%.
That represents a change of down 17.2% on the previous year and down 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female headed households in Nigeria peaked at 19.3% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 14.3%, in 1990.
That places Nigeria 27th out of 34 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Female headed households in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % of households with a female head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 14.3% | — |
| 2003 | 16.6% | +16.1% |
| 2008 | 19.3% | +16.3% |
| 2010 | 15.3% | -20.7% |
| 2013 | 18.5% | +20.9% |
| 2015 | 14.6% | -21.1% |
| 2018 | 18.0% | +23.3% |
| 2021 | 14.9% | -17.2% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 14.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25.6%, 58% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 14.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 26.0%, 57% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 14.3% | 14.3% | 14.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 18.0% | 16.6% | 19.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 16.6% | 14.6% | 18.5% | 4 |
| 2020s | 14.9% | 14.9% | 14.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More health data for Nigeria
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8137 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,301 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 257,921 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 14 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.14 % 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 0.0711 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.17 % 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 Nigeria?
- Female headed households in Nigeria was 14.9% in 2021, according to DHS API, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program.
- What is the highest female headed households recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 19.3% in 2008.
- What is the lowest female headed households recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.3% in 1990.
- How does Nigeria rank for female headed households?
- Nigeria ranks 27th out of 34 countries with data for 2021.
- Is female headed households rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.