Female headed households in Zambia
Zambia: Female headed households was 26.8% in 2018. ▲ Rising
Female headed households in Zambia, 1992–2018
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 Zambia is 26.8%, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female headed households in Zambia peaked at 26.8% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 16.2%, in 1992.
That places Zambia 14th out of 34 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
Female headed households in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of households with a female head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 16.2% | — |
| 1996 | 23.1% | +42.6% |
| 2002 | 22.6% | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 24.3% | +7.5% |
| 2014 | 26.6% | +9.5% |
| 2018 | 26.8% | +0.8% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 26.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25.6%, 1.0× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 26.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 26.0%, 1.0× the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.6% | 16.2% | 23.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 23.5% | 22.6% | 24.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 26.7% | 26.6% | 26.8% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,894 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % 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 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.69 % 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 Zambia?
- Female headed households in Zambia was 26.8% in 2018, according to DHS API, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program.
- What is the highest female headed households recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 26.8% in 2018.
- What is the lowest female headed households recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.2% in 1992.
- How does Zambia rank for female headed households?
- Zambia ranks 14th out of 34 countries with data for 2018.
- Is female headed households rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia 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.