Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Malawi
Malawi: Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods was 64.7% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Malawi, 1984–2020
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
The most recent figure for contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Malawi is 64.7%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.
That represents a change of up 53.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Malawi peaked at 64.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 3.2%, in 1984.
Malawi ranks 22nd of 113 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 3.2% | — |
| 1992 | 7.4% | +131.2% |
| 1996 | 14.4% | +94.6% |
| 2000 | 26.1% | +81.2% |
| 2004 | 28.1% | +7.7% |
| 2006 | 38.6% | +37.5% |
| 2010 | 42.2% | +9.2% |
| 2014 | 57.4% | +35.9% |
| 2016 | 58.1% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 64.7% | +11.4% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 64.7% is above the median for low income countries, which is 22.9%, 2.8× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 64.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25.3%, 2.6× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1 |
| 1990s | 10.9% | 7.4% | 14.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 30.9% | 26.1% | 38.6% | 3 |
| 2010s | 52.6% | 42.2% | 58.1% | 3 |
| 2020s | 64.7% | 64.7% | 64.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More reference data data for Malawi
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1596 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3426 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5353 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.6012 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.87 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Malawi?
- Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Malawi was 64.7% 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 Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 64.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.2% in 1984.
- How does Malawi rank for contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods?
- Malawi ranks 22nd out of 113 countries with data for 2020.
- Is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi 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 — 10 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).