VICTORIA, Seychelles — On May 15, the world celebrated International Day of Families, a global event highlighting the importance of family structures and their evolving dynamics. In Seychelles, the occasion brought striking revelations from the National Bureau of Statistics, revealing a significant shift in household leadership.
According to the data, in 2022, 53 per cent of conventional households were headed by women, a notable increase from 45 per cent in 1987. Conversely, the proportion of households headed by men dropped from 55 per cent in 1987 to 47 per cent in 2022. This gradual shift, tracked over census years (1987, 1994, 2010, and 2022), underscores a growing trend of female leadership in Seychellois families. The data suggests that societal norms around gender roles are evolving, with women increasingly taking on the role of household head, a position traditionally held by men.
Of households headed by women, 60 per cent are lone heads, meaning they are either single, separated, divorced, or widowed. In contrast, only 40 per cent of female-headed households consist of women who are married or cohabiting. The reverse is true for men: 64 per cent of male-headed households are led by men who are married or cohabiting, while only 36 per cent are lone heads. The data also shows a decline in household size over the decades, with the average number of persons per household decreasing from 4.9 in 1977 to 3.5 in 2022. The bureau said the figures offer a window into the evolving nature of Seychellois families.
