Land, Women and Development: A Systematic Review of Causal Evidence

Abstract

This article systematically reviews the causal literature on the impacts of women’s land rights on development in the Global South, asking how they affect different development outcomes, and what patterns emerge across types of rights, geographies, and methodological approaches. Following the PRISMA protocol, we screen over 800 records and retain 96 studies, covering 46 countries and 202 effects classified in 11 outcomes. Findings show consistently positive effects on empowerment, education, and health, though the latter are less studied. Evidence on investment, financial inclusion, and welfare is more ambiguous, while natural resource management and intra-household dynamics remain too underexplored for meaningful conclusions. Most research focuses on formal ownership, overlooking the broader ‘bundle’ of rights; regions outside Africa and South Asia are critically underrepresented. By mapping causal patterns and gaps, this review establishes a systematic evidence map and guides future evaluations addressing thematic and geographic blind spots.