Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Nepal
Nepal: Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age was 20.8% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Nepal, 1992–2022
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 married women ages 15-49.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Nepal is 20.8%, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 15.8% on the previous year and down 24.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Nepal peaked at 32.4% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 20.8%, in 2022.
That places Nepal 23rd out of 58 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 27.7% | — |
| 1996 | 32.4% | +17.0% |
| 2001 | 27.8% | -14.2% |
| 2006 | 24.7% | -11.2% |
| 2011 | 27.5% | +11.3% |
| 2014 | 25.2% | -8.3% |
| 2016 | 23.7% | -6.0% |
| 2019 | 24.7% | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 20.8% | -15.8% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 20.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.2%, 1.0× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30.0% | 27.7% | 32.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 26.2% | 24.7% | 27.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 25.3% | 23.7% | 27.5% | 4 |
| 2020s | 20.8% | 20.8% | 20.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
- 20 Niger 21.1% compare
- 21 Burkina Faso 21.0% compare
- 22 Tanzania, United Republic of 21.0% compare
- 24 Zambia 19.7% compare
- 25 Senegal 19.1% compare
- 26 El Salvador 17.7% compare
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 unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Nepal?
- Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Nepal was 20.8% 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 unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 32.4% in 1996.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.8% in 2022.
- How does Nepal rank for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age?
- Nepal ranks 23rd out of 58 countries with data for 2022.
- Is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Fertile, married women of reproductive age (ages 15-49) who do not want to become pregnant and are not using contraception.