Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Nepal
Nepal: Share of women using modern contraceptive methods was 42.7% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Nepal, 1976–2022
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 modern contraceptive methods in Nepal is 42.7%, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Nepal peaked at 47.1% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 1976.
That places Nepal 66th out of 113 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 2.4% | — |
| 1981 | 6.8% | +183.3% |
| 1986 | 15.1% | +122.1% |
| 1992 | 24.1% | +59.6% |
| 1996 | 26.0% | +7.9% |
| 2000 | 37.1% | +42.7% |
| 2001 | 35.4% | -4.6% |
| 2004 | 37.9% | +7.1% |
| 2006 | 44.2% | +16.6% |
| 2011 | 43.2% | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 47.1% | +9.1% |
| 2016 | 42.8% | -9.2% |
| 2019 | 44.2% | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 42.7% | -3.4% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 42.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 45.1%, 95% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 42.7% is below the median for South Asia, which is 53.6%, 80% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Nepal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | +183.3% | 2.4% | 6.8% |
| 1986 | +122.1% | 6.8% | 15.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1 |
| 1980s | 10.9% | 6.8% | 15.1% | 2 |
| 1990s | 25.1% | 24.1% | 26.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 38.7% | 35.4% | 44.2% | 4 |
| 2010s | 44.3% | 42.8% | 47.1% | 4 |
| 2020s | 42.7% | 42.7% | 42.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More gender data for Nepal
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 7,927 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.7039 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 22,583 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 22,583 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.5 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 264,089 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 273,367 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 265,882 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 274,092 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 268,570 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Nepal?
- Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Nepal was 42.7% in 2022, 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 47.1% in 2014.
- What is the lowest share of women using modern contraceptive methods recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 1976.
- How does Nepal rank for share of women using modern contraceptive methods?
- Nepal ranks 66th out of 113 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of women using modern contraceptive methods rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nepal 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.