Share of women using contraceptives in Namibia
Namibia: Share of women using contraceptives was 56.1% in 2013. ▲ Rising
Share of women using contraceptives in Namibia, 1989–2013
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
Namibia recorded 56.1% for share of women using contraceptives in 2013. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 28.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women using contraceptives in Namibia peaked at 56.1% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 28.9%, in 1992.
Namibia ranks 60th of 116 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of women using contraceptives in Namibia, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 40.9% | — |
| 1992 | 28.9% | -29.3% |
| 2000 | 43.7% | +51.2% |
| 2007 | 55.1% | +26.1% |
| 2013 | 56.1% | +1.8% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 56.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 54.0%, 1.0× the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 56.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 28.5%, 2.0× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 40.9% | 40.9% | 40.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 28.9% | 28.9% | 28.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 49.4% | 43.7% | 55.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 56.1% | 56.1% | 56.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
More gender data for Namibia
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 1,172 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.3037 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 2,218 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 2,218 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 2.57 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 38,320 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 38,517 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 37,694 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 37,867 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 38,396 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women using contraceptives in Namibia?
- Share of women using contraceptives in Namibia was 56.1% in 2013, 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 Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 56.1% in 2013.
- What is the lowest share of women using contraceptives recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.9% in 1992.
- How does Namibia rank for share of women using contraceptives?
- Namibia ranks 60th out of 116 countries with data for 2013.
- Is share of women using contraceptives rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Namibia 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.