Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Lesotho
Lesotho: Share of women using modern contraceptive methods was 65.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Lesotho, 1977–2024
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 2024, share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Lesotho stood at 65.3%. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.
That represents a change of up 9.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Lesotho peaked at 65.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.0%, in 1977.
That places Lesotho 21st out of 113 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 10 years of available data.
Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 3.0% | — |
| 2000 | 29.6% | +886.1% |
| 2001 | 36.1% | +22.0% |
| 2002 | 34.7% | -3.9% |
| 2004 | 35.2% | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 45.6% | +29.5% |
| 2011 | 60.8% | +33.4% |
| 2014 | 59.8% | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 64.6% | +8.0% |
| 2024 | 65.3% | +1.1% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 65.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 45.1%, 1.4× the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 65.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25.3%, 2.6× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 36.2% | 29.6% | 45.6% | 5 |
| 2010s | 61.7% | 59.8% | 64.6% | 3 |
| 2020s | 65.3% | 65.3% | 65.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More gender data for Lesotho
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 786.22 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.5717 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 1,708 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 1,708 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.83 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 26,291 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 26,787 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 25,880 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 26,319 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 25,717 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Lesotho?
- Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Lesotho was 65.3% in 2024, 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 modern contraceptive methods recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 65.3% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of women using modern contraceptive methods recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.0% in 1977.
- How does Lesotho rank for share of women using modern contraceptive methods?
- Lesotho ranks 21st out of 113 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of women using modern contraceptive methods rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho 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 modern contraceptive methods. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of women using modern contraceptive methods, among those aged 15–49 and married or in union.