Abstract: Abstract Background: The study investigates the median age at menarche in African countries. Data Source and Methods: DHS surveys provided information on the proportion ever-menstruating among women age I 5- 19. A linear-logistic regression model was used to derive the median age at menarche (statu quo method). Some 139 DHS surveys were analysed, for a total of 304,826 women. Results: Results show a wide range of variations of the median age at menarche among the 35 countries investigated, from 13. I to I 5.2 years. Conclusion: Country variations were correlated with various variables indicating the level of development (Income per capita; Caloric intal‹e; Urbanization; Child mortality; Fertility; Age at marriage). Two variables were particularly important: food intake and urbanization. Keywords: Age at menarche; Logit model; Socio-economic correlates; DHS surveys; Sub-Saharan Africa.