Female headed households in Uganda

Uganda: Female headed households was 28.3% in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
28.3%
Change on year
down 8.7%
World rank
13th
of 34 countries
All-time high
31.0%
in 2016
All-time low
24.4%
in 1995
Years of data
9
1995–2019

Female headed households in Uganda, 1995–2019

01020301995200720191995: 24.4 % of households with a female head2001: 27.5 % of households with a female head2005: 29.4 % of households with a female head2006: 29.9 % of households with a female head2009: 29.8 % of households with a female head2011: 29.5 % of households with a female head2015: 26.9 % of households with a female head2016: 31 % of households with a female head2019: 28.3 % of households with a female head

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

Analysis

In 2019, female headed households in Uganda stood at 28.3%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.7% on the previous year and down 5.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female headed households in Uganda peaked at 31.0% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 24.4%, in 1995.

Uganda ranks 13th of 34 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Female headed households in Uganda, year by year

Annual values for Female headed households (% of households with a female head) in Uganda, 1995 to 2019.
Year % of households with a female head Change
1995 24.4%
2001 27.5% +12.7%
2005 29.4% +6.9%
2006 29.9% +1.7%
2009 29.8% -0.3%
2011 29.5% -1.0%
2015 26.9% -8.8%
2016 31.0% +15.2%
2019 28.3% -8.7%

Uganda compared with similar countries

  • Uganda's 28.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25.6%, 1.1× the median. (21 countries reporting)
  • Uganda's 28.3% is above the median for low income countries, which is 25.1%, 1.1× the median. (10 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 24.4% 24.4% 24.4% 1
2000s 29.1% 27.5% 29.9% 4
2010s 28.9% 26.9% 31.0% 4

Countries ranked near Uganda

  1. 10 Mozambique 31.8% compare
  2. 11 Cambodia 31.1% compare
  3. 12 Tanzania, United Republic of 28.6% compare
  4. 14 Zambia 26.8% compare
  5. 15 Cameroon 26.0% compare
  6. 16 Philippines 25.8% compare

See the full ranking of 34 places →

More health data for Uganda

All data for Uganda →

Frequently asked questions

What is female headed households in Uganda?
Female headed households in Uganda was 28.3% in 2019, according to DHS API, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program.
What is the highest female headed households recorded in Uganda?
The highest recorded value was 31.0% in 2016.
What is the lowest female headed households recorded in Uganda?
The lowest recorded value was 24.4% in 1995.
How does Uganda rank for female headed households?
Uganda ranks 13th out of 34 countries with data for 2019.
Is female headed households rising or falling in Uganda?
Over the last ten years it is down 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Uganda 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 Uganda. Statizoid, drawing on DHS API, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/female-headed-households-percent-of-households-with-a-female-head/uganda/

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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.