Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Share of women using modern contraceptive methods was 65.8% in 2015. ▲ Rising
Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Zimbabwe, 1984–2015
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
Zimbabwe recorded 65.8% for share of women using modern contraceptive methods in 2015.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 12.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Zimbabwe peaked at 66.5% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 26.6%, in 1984.
Zimbabwe ranks 19th of 113 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 26.6% | — |
| 1988 | 36.1% | +35.7% |
| 1994 | 42.2% | +16.9% |
| 1999 | 50.4% | +19.4% |
| 2006 | 58.4% | +15.9% |
| 2009 | 63.9% | +9.5% |
| 2011 | 57.3% | -10.4% |
| 2014 | 66.5% | +16.0% |
| 2015 | 65.8% | -1.0% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 65.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 45.1%, 1.5× the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 65.8% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 31.4% | 26.6% | 36.1% | 2 |
| 1990s | 46.3% | 42.2% | 50.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 61.2% | 58.4% | 63.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 63.2% | 57.3% | 66.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More gender data for Zimbabwe
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 6,958 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.695 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 11,652 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 11,652 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 2.58 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 239,901 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 244,202 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 236,403 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 240,452 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 234,239 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Zimbabwe?
- Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Zimbabwe was 65.8% in 2015, 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 66.5% in 2014.
- What is the lowest share of women using modern contraceptive methods recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.6% in 1984.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for share of women using modern contraceptive methods?
- Zimbabwe ranks 19th out of 113 countries with data for 2015.
- Is share of women using modern contraceptive methods rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.