More homes run by women than men in Kavango East

More than half of all households in Kavango East are headed by women, a striking reversal of the traditional picture of men as primary household heads. This was revealed yesterday in Rundu during the Namibia Statistics Agency’s (NSA) dissemination of the 2023 Population and Housing Census results for the region.According to the NSA, women lead 53% of households in Kavango East, compared to 47% led by men. The finding carries significant social and economic weight in a region where customary norms often cast men as decision-makers. It also points to shifting family structures influenced by migration, widowhood, divorce, and economic pressures. Analysts say the high proportion of female-headed households demands closer attention to women’s access to income, land, and social support.While women are increasingly taking charge, the census also revealed the presence of households led by children. Although accounting for less than 1% across Kavango East, child-headed households are a sobering reminder of the effects of orphanhood, poverty, and parental migration. Each figure in this category represents young people forced into premature responsibility, often with limited support systems.The data further shows that 21% of households in the region are headed by elderly people. Rural areas bear the heaviest weight, with 31.1% of households led by the elderly. In Rundu rural, the proportion climbs to an alarming 36.8%. The NSA says this pattern suggests that as younger people move to towns or seek work elsewhere, older generations are left carrying the household burden, often while still caring for grandchildren.The census also sheds light on the size of families in the region, saying Kavango East’s average household has 5.3 people, higher than the national average. According to NSA, larger households stretch resources thin, affecting the quality of housing, access to education, and the ability to break cycles of poverty. For planners, this raises concerns about overcrowding and the demand for services.Furthermore, the NSA says one-third of households in Kavango East live in informal dwellings, while another third occupy traditional structures. In addition, NSA says shacks dominate in urban areas, driven by rapid migration to towns such as Rundu, while in rural constituencies, traditional huts remain the norm. The agency adds that both scenarios highlight the pressure of population growth on housing infrastructure and the urgent need for policies that address affordable and decent shelter.phillipus@nmh-hub.com.na

More homes run by women than men in Kavango East

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-17

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More homes run by women than men in Kavango East

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-17

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