India
oi-Swastika Sruti
Having a house or some land is usually a sign that you are doing well financially. You can take care of yourself. For women owning property is also a way to have control over the decisions that affect their lives it means they have a better chance of being financially stable and being treated equally in society.
The new National Family Health Survey, which is also called NFHS-6 was done in 2023-24. It shows that there are big differences between states when it comes to women owning homes and land in India. The information from the survey shows that things are getting better in some ways. There are still some big problems that women face when it comes to owning things like houses and land.
The survey found out that in 18.8% of households in India there is a woman who owns a house or some land either by herself or together with someone else. Women owning property is a deal and the National Family Health Survey is helping us understand how many women in India actually own property, like houses and land.
PTI INFOGRAPHICS | NFHS 6: Where Women Own More Land and Homes (n/3)
Nationally, 18.8% of households have a female member who owns a house and/or land, either alone or jointly with others. Meghalaya leads the country in this metric at 65.3%, while Jammu & Kashmir reports the… pic.twitter.com/N7z9BULzA8
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 23, 2026
Meghalaya Tops The Country
Among all states and Union Territories, Meghalaya recorded the highest rate of female property ownership at 65.3%.
This means that nearly two out of every three households in the state have a woman who owns a house or land.
Lakshadweep ranked second with 53.6%, followed by Kerala at 34.3%.
Other states reporting relatively high levels of female ownership include:
- Andhra Pradesh – 31.9%
- Telangana – 31.1%
- Karnataka – 29.5%
- Uttarakhand – 23.7%
- Puducherry – 22.8%
- Goa – 21.4%
- Uttar Pradesh – 20.1%
The strong performance of Meghalaya is often linked to its matrilineal social structure, where inheritance and family assets traditionally pass through women.
National Average Remains Below 20%
While some states have made notable progress, the national average remains relatively low.
At 18.8%, fewer than one in five households in India have a woman who owns land or a home.
Experts believe that social norms, inheritance practices, financial barriers and limited awareness of property rights continue to restrict women’s ownership of assets in many parts of the country.
Property ownership is widely considered a key indicator of women’s economic empowerment because it can provide security, access to credit and greater participation in household decisions.
Jammu & Kashmir Reports Lowest Ownership
At the bottom of the list is Jammu & Kashmir, where only 5% of households reported having a female member who owns a house or land.
Other regions with low levels of female property ownership include:
- Ladakh – 7.1%
- Sikkim – 9.4%
- Assam – 9.9%
- Nagaland – 11.6%
- Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu – 12.1%
- West Bengal – 13%
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands – 13.1%
The figures suggest that access to property remains uneven across different parts of the country.
Why Property Ownership Matters For Women
Ownership of land and housing is more than just an economic asset.
Studies have shown that women who own property often enjoy:
- Greater financial independence
- Better access to formal credit and loans
- Increased decision-making power within families
- Enhanced social status
- Improved security during crises or marital disputes
Property ownership can also contribute to better outcomes for children by improving household stability and long-term financial planning.
States In The Middle Of The Pack
Several major states recorded ownership levels close to the national average:
- Maharashtra – 18.6%
- Delhi – 17.7%
- Tripura – 17.7%
- Chhattisgarh – 17.5%
- Madhya Pradesh – 17.3%
- Tamil Nadu – 17.2%
- Gujarat – 16%
- Bihar – 14.9%
- Haryana – 14.7%
- Jharkhand – 14.5%
These numbers indicate that while women are gaining access to property, ownership remains far from widespread.
A Long Road Ahead
The NFHS-6 findings show that India has made progress in increasing women’s ownership of homes and land, but significant disparities continue to exist between states.
With less than one-fifth of households nationally reporting female ownership of property, experts say there is still a long way to go before women achieve equal access to assets.
Improving awareness of inheritance rights, promoting joint ownership and expanding financial inclusion are among the measures that could help bridge the gap and strengthen women’s economic empowerment across the country.
