Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods was 34.6% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Ethiopia, 1990–2021
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
The most recent figure for contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Ethiopia is 34.6%, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.8% on the previous year and up 26.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Ethiopia peaked at 40.5% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 2.8%, in 1997.
That places Ethiopia 76th out of 113 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2.9% | — |
| 1997 | 2.8% | -3.4% |
| 2000 | 6.3% | +125.0% |
| 2005 | 13.9% | +120.6% |
| 2011 | 27.3% | +96.4% |
| 2014 | 40.4% | +48.0% |
| 2015 | 36.0% | -10.9% |
| 2016 | 35.3% | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 35.1% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 38.4% | +9.2% |
| 2019 | 40.5% | +5.6% |
| 2020 | 35.6% | -12.1% |
| 2021 | 34.6% | -2.8% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 34.6% is above the median for low income countries, which is 22.9%, 1.5× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 34.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25.3%, 1.4× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Ethiopia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +125.0% | 2.8% | 6.3% |
| 2005 | +120.6% | 6.3% | 13.9% |
| 2011 | +96.4% | 13.9% | 27.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 10.1% | 6.3% | 13.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 36.1% | 27.3% | 40.5% | 7 |
| 2020s | 35.1% | 34.6% | 35.6% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More reference data data for Ethiopia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6564 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 20.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 25.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 25.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 100.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 121.79 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 7.47 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Ethiopia?
- Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Ethiopia was 34.6% 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 contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 40.5% in 2019.
- What is the lowest contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.8% in 1997.
- How does Ethiopia rank for contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods?
- Ethiopia ranks 76th out of 113 countries with data for 2021.
- Is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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 Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimated share of women using contraceptive methods, among those aged 15–49 and married or in union. This is compared between modern methods and any method (modern or traditional).