Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Gambia
Gambia: Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods was 17.1% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Gambia, 1990–2020
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
Gambia recorded 17.1% for contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in 2020. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.1% on the previous year and up 67.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Gambia peaked at 17.1% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 6.7%, in 1990.
Gambia ranks 102nd of 113 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Gambia, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6.7% | — |
| 2000 | 8.7% | +30.0% |
| 2001 | 13.4% | +53.8% |
| 2010 | 10.2% | -23.8% |
| 2013 | 8.1% | -20.7% |
| 2018 | 16.3% | +100.8% |
| 2020 | 17.1% | +5.1% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 17.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 22.9%, 75% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 17.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25.3%, 68% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.7% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 11.1% | 8.7% | 13.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 11.5% | 8.1% | 16.3% | 3 |
| 2020s | 17.1% | 17.1% | 17.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More reference data data for Gambia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0121 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2798 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.3524 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0232 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.3524 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0407 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0331 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1264 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Gambia?
- Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Gambia was 17.1% in 2020, 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 Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 17.1% in 2020.
- What is the lowest contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.7% in 1990.
- How does Gambia rank for contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods?
- Gambia ranks 102nd out of 113 countries with data for 2020.
- Is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 67.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Gambia 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.
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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).