Female headed households in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe: Female headed households was 40.6% in 2015. ▲ Rising

Latest (2015)
40.6%
World rank
2nd
of 34 countries
All-time high
44.6%
in 2011
All-time low
32.7%
in 1994
Years of data
5
1994–2015

Female headed households in Zimbabwe, 1994–2015

0102030401994200420151994: 32.7 % of households with a female head1999: 33.5 % of households with a female head2006: 37.7 % of households with a female head2011: 44.6 % of households with a female head2015: 40.6 % of households with a female head

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 Zimbabwe is 40.6%, measured in 2015.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female headed households in Zimbabwe peaked at 44.6% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 32.7%, in 1994.

That places Zimbabwe 2nd out of 34 countries with data for 2015, putting it in the top 10%.

Female headed households in Zimbabwe, year by year

Annual values for Female headed households (% of households with a female head) in Zimbabwe, 1994 to 2015.
Year % of households with a female head Change
1994 32.7%
1999 33.5% +2.4%
2006 37.7% +12.5%
2011 44.6% +18.3%
2015 40.6% -9.0%

Zimbabwe compared with similar countries

  • Zimbabwe's 40.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 26.0%, 1.6× the median. (17 countries reporting)
  • Zimbabwe's 40.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25.6%, 1.6× the median. (21 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 33.1% 32.7% 33.5% 2
2000s 37.7% 37.7% 37.7% 1
2010s 42.6% 40.6% 44.6% 2

Countries ranked near Zimbabwe

  1. 1 Haiti 45.1% compare
  2. 3 Dominican Republic 39.9% compare
  3. 4 Ghana 36.6% compare
  4. 5 Colombia 36.4% compare

See the full ranking of 34 places →

More health data for Zimbabwe

All data for Zimbabwe →

Frequently asked questions

What is female headed households in Zimbabwe?
Female headed households in Zimbabwe was 40.6% in 2015, according to DHS API, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program.
What is the highest female headed households recorded in Zimbabwe?
The highest recorded value was 44.6% in 2011.
What is the lowest female headed households recorded in Zimbabwe?
The lowest recorded value was 32.7% in 1994.
How does Zimbabwe rank for female headed households?
Zimbabwe ranks 2nd out of 34 countries with data for 2015.
Is female headed households rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
Over the last ten years it is up 7.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe. 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/zimbabwe/

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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.