Share of women using contraceptives in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Share of women using contraceptives was 36.1% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Share of women using contraceptives in Ethiopia, 1990–2021
Source: Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of women ages 15-49.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of women using contraceptives in Ethiopia is 36.1%, measured in 2021.
The figure is down 4.3% on the previous year and up 26.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women using contraceptives in Ethiopia peaked at 42.0% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 3.3%, in 1997.
That places Ethiopia 87th out of 116 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of women using contraceptives in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 4.8% | — |
| 1997 | 3.3% | -31.2% |
| 2000 | 8.1% | +145.5% |
| 2005 | 14.7% | +81.5% |
| 2011 | 28.6% | +94.6% |
| 2014 | 42.0% | +46.9% |
| 2015 | 36.9% | -12.1% |
| 2016 | 35.9% | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 36.3% | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 40.0% | +10.2% |
| 2019 | 41.4% | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 37.7% | -8.9% |
| 2021 | 36.1% | -4.3% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 36.1% is above the median for low income countries, which is 28.1%, 1.3× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 36.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 28.5%, 1.3× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of women using contraceptives in Ethiopia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +145.5% | 3.3% | 8.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.0% | 3.3% | 4.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 11.4% | 8.1% | 14.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 37.3% | 28.6% | 42.0% | 7 |
| 2020s | 36.9% | 36.1% | 37.7% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More gender data for Ethiopia
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 57,452 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.69 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 95,403 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 95,403 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 2.76 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 1.98 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 2.07 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 1.95 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 2.04 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 1.92 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women using contraceptives in Ethiopia?
- Share of women using contraceptives in Ethiopia was 36.1% in 2021, according to Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of women using contraceptives recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 42.0% in 2014.
- What is the lowest share of women using contraceptives recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.3% in 1997.
- How does Ethiopia rank for share of women using contraceptives?
- Ethiopia ranks 87th out of 116 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of women using contraceptives rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of women using contraceptives. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Contraceptive prevalence rate is the percentage of women who are practicing, or whose sexual partners are practicing, any form of contraception. It is usually measured for women ages 15-49 who are married or in union.