Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Ethiopia

Ethiopia: Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods was 34.6% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
34.6%
Change on year
down 2.8%
World rank
76th
of 113 countries
All-time high
40.5%
in 2019
All-time low
2.8%
in 1997
Years of data
13
1990–2021

Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Ethiopia, 1990–2021

0102030401990200520211990: 2.9 % of women ages 15-491997: 2.8 % of women ages 15-492000: 6.3 % of women ages 15-492005: 13.9 % of women ages 15-492011: 27.3 % of women ages 15-492014: 40.4 % of women ages 15-492015: 36 % of women ages 15-492016: 35.3 % of women ages 15-492017: 35.1 % of women ages 15-492018: 38.4 % of women ages 15-492019: 40.5 % of women ages 15-492020: 35.6 % of women ages 15-492021: 34.6 % of women ages 15-49

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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 73 Kyrgyzstan 37.8% compare
  2. 74 Syria 37.5% compare
  3. 75 Iraq 36.1% compare
  4. 77 Malaysia 34.5% compare
  5. 78 Haiti 31.8% compare
  6. 79 Burkina Faso 31.3% compare

See the full ranking of 113 places →

More reference data data for Ethiopia

All data for Ethiopia →

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

Indicator
Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods
Unit
% of women ages 15-49
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
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
113 places, 1,022 data points, 1961–2024
Last refreshed

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).