Economic Standing of Nigerian Women: Key Findings from NDHS 2024

Data from the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) highlights shifts in the economic dynamics within Nigerian households, specifically concerning wives’ earnings relative to their husbands and rates of female property ownership.

Wives Earning More Than Husbands

Nationally, 4.1\% of wives earn more cash than their husbands in 2024. This figure represents a decline from 5.2\% recorded in 2018.

The geographical breakdown of this economic power shift shows regional disparities:

| Region | Percentage of Wives Earning More than Husband |

| South South | 6.1\% |

| South East | 5.7\% |

| North Central | 4.6\% |

| South West | 4.5\% |

| North East | 3.0\% |

| North West | 2.9\% |

The South South region records the highest percentage, with 6.1\% of wives out-earning their spouses, while the North West has the lowest rate at 2.9\%.

Sole House Ownership Among Women

The survey also measured women’s control over significant assets, finding that only 1.3\% of Nigerian women aged 15-49 are the sole owners of their house.

Regional figures for women who own a house alone are significantly lower across the board:

| Region | Percentage of Women Who Are Sole House Owners |

| South South | 2.0\% |

| North Central | 1.5\% |

| North East | 1.3\% |

| South West | 1.3\% |

| South East | 1.2\% |

| North West | 0.9\% |

The South South region also leads in this category at 2.0\%, while the North West records the lowest rate of sole female house ownership at 0.9\%.