Share of women using contraceptives in Malawi
Malawi: Share of women using contraceptives was 65.6% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of women using contraceptives in Malawi, 1984–2020
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 Malawi is 65.6%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.
The figure is up 42.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women using contraceptives in Malawi peaked at 65.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 6.9%, in 1984.
That places Malawi 34th out of 116 countries with data for 2020, 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 Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 6.9% | — |
| 1992 | 13.0% | +88.4% |
| 1996 | 21.9% | +68.5% |
| 2000 | 30.6% | +39.7% |
| 2004 | 32.5% | +6.2% |
| 2006 | 41.0% | +26.2% |
| 2010 | 46.1% | +12.4% |
| 2014 | 58.6% | +27.1% |
| 2016 | 59.2% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 65.6% | +10.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 6.9% | 6.9% | 6.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 17.4% | 13.0% | 21.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 34.7% | 30.6% | 41.0% | 3 |
| 2010s | 54.6% | 46.1% | 59.2% | 3 |
| 2020s | 65.6% | 65.6% | 65.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More gender data for Malawi
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 9,494 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.4 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 330,369 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 332,767 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 322,764 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 324,764 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 316,113 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 318,049 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 310,624 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 312,186 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women using contraceptives in Malawi?
- Share of women using contraceptives in Malawi was 65.6% in 2020, 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 Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 65.6% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of women using contraceptives recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.9% in 1984.
- How does Malawi rank for share of women using contraceptives?
- Malawi ranks 34th out of 116 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of women using contraceptives rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.