Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Uganda
Uganda: Share of women using modern contraceptive methods was 38.0% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Uganda, 1989–2022
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 Uganda is 38.0%, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 13.7% on the previous year and up 46.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Uganda peaked at 44.0% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2.5%, in 1989.
That places Uganda 72nd 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 Uganda, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 2.5% | — |
| 1995 | 7.8% | +212.0% |
| 2001 | 18.2% | +133.3% |
| 2005 | 18.7% | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 17.9% | -4.3% |
| 2011 | 26.0% | +45.3% |
| 2014 | 25.3% | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 29.6% | +16.8% |
| 2016 | 34.8% | +17.7% |
| 2017 | 35.9% | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 35.1% | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 37.3% | +6.2% |
| 2021 | 44.0% | +18.1% |
| 2022 | 38.0% | -13.7% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 38.0% is above the median for low income countries, which is 22.9%, 1.7× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 38.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25.3%, 1.5× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Uganda 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +212.0% | 2.5% | 7.8% |
| 2001 | +133.3% | 7.8% | 18.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 7.8% | 7.8% | 7.8% | 1 |
| 2000s | 18.3% | 17.9% | 18.7% | 3 |
| 2010s | 31.1% | 25.3% | 35.9% | 6 |
| 2020s | 39.8% | 37.3% | 44.0% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More gender data for Uganda
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 23,854 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.35 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 34,459 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 34,459 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 3.21 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 832,544 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 852,069 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 821,106 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 839,557 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 810,014 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Uganda?
- Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Uganda was 38.0% 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 Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 44.0% in 2021.
- What is the lowest share of women using modern contraceptive methods recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.5% in 1989.
- How does Uganda rank for share of women using modern contraceptive methods?
- Uganda ranks 72nd out of 113 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of women using modern contraceptive methods rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Uganda 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.