Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Nigeria
Nigeria: Share of women using modern contraceptive methods was 18.2% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Nigeria, 1982–2021
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 2021, share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Nigeria stood at 18.2%. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is up 51.7% on the previous year and up 58.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Nigeria peaked at 18.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 1982.
Nigeria ranks 100th of 113 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 0.9% | — |
| 1990 | 3.5% | +288.9% |
| 1999 | 8.5% | +142.3% |
| 2003 | 8.2% | -3.3% |
| 2007 | 10.5% | +28.6% |
| 2008 | 9.7% | -8.0% |
| 2011 | 11.5% | +18.5% |
| 2012 | 10.7% | -6.5% |
| 2013 | 9.8% | -8.7% |
| 2016 | 16.4% | +67.1% |
| 2017 | 10.7% | -34.6% |
| 2018 | 12.0% | +12.0% |
| 2021 | 18.2% | +51.7% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 18.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 45.1%, 40% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 18.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25.3%, 72% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Nigeria 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +288.9% | 0.9% | 3.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 6.0% | 3.5% | 8.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 9.5% | 8.2% | 10.5% | 3 |
| 2010s | 11.9% | 9.8% | 16.4% | 6 |
| 2020s | 18.2% | 18.2% | 18.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 97 Guinea-Bissau 20.2% compare
- 98 Afghanistan 19.8% compare
- 99 Oman 18.8% compare
- 101 Democratic Republic of Congo 17.6% compare
- 102 Gambia 17.1% compare
- 103 Benin 16.9% compare
More gender data for Nigeria
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 99,803 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.6887 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 162,578 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 162,578 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 2.75 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 3.55 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 3.66 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 3.45 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 3.54 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 3.38 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Nigeria?
- Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Nigeria was 18.2% in 2021, 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 18.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest share of women using modern contraceptive methods recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 1982.
- How does Nigeria rank for share of women using modern contraceptive methods?
- Nigeria ranks 100th out of 113 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of women using modern contraceptive methods rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 58.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.