Share of women using contraceptives in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Share of women using contraceptives was 64.6% in 2016. ▲ Rising
Share of women using contraceptives in Sri Lanka, 1975–2016
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
In 2016, share of women using contraceptives in Sri Lanka stood at 64.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women using contraceptives in Sri Lanka peaked at 70.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 34.4%, in 1975.
That places Sri Lanka 36th out of 116 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the middle of the range.
Share of women using contraceptives in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 34.4% | — |
| 1977 | 48.6% | +41.3% |
| 1982 | 57.8% | +18.9% |
| 1987 | 61.7% | +6.7% |
| 1993 | 66.1% | +7.1% |
| 2000 | 70.0% | +5.9% |
| 2007 | 68.4% | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 64.6% | -5.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 41.5% | 34.4% | 48.6% | 2 |
| 1980s | 59.8% | 57.8% | 61.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 66.1% | 66.1% | 66.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 69.2% | 68.4% | 70.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 64.6% | 64.6% | 64.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More gender data for Sri Lanka
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 4,804 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.8687 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 155,366 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 162,031 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 156,342 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 163,015 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 157,484 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 164,192 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 158,342 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 165,089 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women using contraceptives in Sri Lanka?
- Share of women using contraceptives in Sri Lanka was 64.6% in 2016, 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 70.0% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of women using contraceptives recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.4% in 1975.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for share of women using contraceptives?
- Sri Lanka ranks 36th out of 116 countries with data for 2016.
- Is share of women using contraceptives rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.