Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Nepal

Nepal: Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods was 42.7% in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
42.7%
Change on year
down 3.4%
World rank
66th
of 113 countries
All-time high
47.1%
in 2014
All-time low
2.4%
in 1976
Years of data
14
1976–2022

Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Nepal, 1976–2022

010203040501976199920221976: 2.4 % of women ages 15-491981: 6.8 % of women ages 15-491986: 15.1 % of women ages 15-491992: 24.1 % of women ages 15-491996: 26 % of women ages 15-492000: 37.1 % of women ages 15-492001: 35.4 % of women ages 15-492004: 37.9 % of women ages 15-492006: 44.2 % of women ages 15-492011: 43.2 % of women ages 15-492014: 47.1 % of women ages 15-492016: 42.8 % of women ages 15-492019: 44.2 % of women ages 15-492022: 42.7 % 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 Nepal is 42.7%, measured in 2022.

The figure is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Nepal peaked at 47.1% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 1976.

That places Nepal 66th out of 113 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 2.4% 2.4% 2.4% 1
1980s 10.9% 6.8% 15.1% 2
1990s 25.1% 24.1% 26.0% 2
2000s 38.7% 35.4% 44.2% 4
2010s 44.3% 42.8% 47.1% 4
2020s 42.7% 42.7% 42.7% 1

Countries ranked near Nepal

  1. 63 Cambodia 44.7% compare
  2. 64 Moldova 43.9% compare
  3. 65 Palestine 42.8% compare
  4. 66 Madagascar 42.7% compare
  5. 68 Philippines 41.8% compare
  6. 69 Bulgaria 39.6% compare

See the full ranking of 113 places →

More reference data data for Nepal

All data for Nepal →

Frequently asked questions

What is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Nepal?
Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Nepal was 42.7% in 2022, 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 Nepal?
The highest recorded value was 47.1% in 2014.
What is the lowest contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods recorded in Nepal?
The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 1976.
How does Nepal rank for contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods?
Nepal ranks 66th out of 113 countries with data for 2022.
Is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods rising or falling in Nepal?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Nepal 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 — 14 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).