Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Gambia

Gambia: Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods was 17.1% in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
17.1%
Change on year
up 5.1%
World rank
102nd
of 113 countries
All-time high
17.1%
in 2020
All-time low
6.7%
in 1990
Years of data
7
1990–2020

Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Gambia, 1990–2020

0510151990200520201990: 6.7 % of women ages 15-492000: 8.7 % of women ages 15-492001: 13.4 % of women ages 15-492010: 10.2 % of women ages 15-492013: 8.1 % of women ages 15-492018: 16.3 % of women ages 15-492020: 17.1 % 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

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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 99 Oman 18.8% compare
  2. 100 Nigeria 18.2% compare
  3. 101 Democratic Republic of Congo 17.6% compare
  4. 103 Benin 16.9% compare
  5. 104 Mali 16.4% compare
  6. 105 Cameroon 15.4% compare

See the full ranking of 113 places →

More reference data data for Gambia

All data for Gambia →

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

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).