Determinants of Household Well-Being in Benin

This paper aims to identify the main factors influencing household well-being in Benin. To this end, an ordered multinomial logit model was estimated on a sample of 8,000 households using data from the Harmonized Household Living Conditions Survey (EHCVM) conducted in 2021-2022 by the National Institute of Statistics and Demography (INStaD). The results confirm that well-being is fundamentally multidimensional and cannot be reduced to a single economic indicator, but rather reveal a more fragmented distribution between different levels of well-being. The analyses also show that household size has a significant negative effect on household well-being. Furthermore, urban areas have a positive and significant effect on household well-being. The results call for targeted policies to reduce social and spatial inequalities, in particular through increased investment in rural areas and greater support for vulnerable households. A multidimensional approach to well-being should guide the design of social policies in Benin.