Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Lesotho

Lesotho: Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods was 65.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
65.3%
World rank
21st
of 113 countries
All-time high
65.3%
in 2024
All-time low
3.0%
in 1977
Years of data
10
1977–2024

Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Lesotho, 1977–2024

02040601977200020241977: 3 % of women ages 15-492000: 29.6 % of women ages 15-492001: 36.1 % of women ages 15-492002: 34.7 % of women ages 15-492004: 35.2 % of women ages 15-492009: 45.6 % of women ages 15-492011: 60.8 % of women ages 15-492014: 59.8 % of women ages 15-492018: 64.6 % of women ages 15-492024: 65.3 % 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

Lesotho recorded 65.3% for contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in 2024. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.

That represents a change of up 9.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Lesotho peaked at 65.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.0%, in 1977.

That places Lesotho 21st out of 113 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 10 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 3.0% 3.0% 3.0% 1
2000s 36.2% 29.6% 45.6% 5
2010s 61.7% 59.8% 64.6% 3
2020s 65.3% 65.3% 65.3% 1

Countries ranked near Lesotho

  1. 18 United States 66.1% compare
  2. 19 Zimbabwe 65.8% compare
  3. 20 Belgium 65.4% compare
  4. 22 Malawi 64.7% compare
  5. 23 Australia 64.7% compare
  6. 24 Dominican Republic 62.0% compare

See the full ranking of 113 places →

More reference data data for Lesotho

All data for Lesotho →

Frequently asked questions

What is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Lesotho?
Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Lesotho was 65.3% in 2024, 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 Lesotho?
The highest recorded value was 65.3% in 2024.
What is the lowest contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods recorded in Lesotho?
The lowest recorded value was 3.0% in 1977.
How does Lesotho rank for contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods?
Lesotho ranks 21st out of 113 countries with data for 2024.
Is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods rising or falling in Lesotho?
Over the last ten years it is up 9.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Lesotho 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).