Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Nigeria
Nigeria: Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods was 18.2% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Nigeria, 1982–2021
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
In 2021, contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Nigeria stood at 18.2%. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is up 51.7% on the previous year and up 58.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Nigeria peaked at 18.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 1982.
That places Nigeria 100th out of 113 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 0.9% | — |
| 1990 | 3.5% | +288.9% |
| 1999 | 8.5% | +142.3% |
| 2003 | 8.2% | -3.3% |
| 2007 | 10.5% | +28.6% |
| 2008 | 9.7% | -8.0% |
| 2011 | 11.5% | +18.5% |
| 2012 | 10.7% | -6.5% |
| 2013 | 9.8% | -8.7% |
| 2016 | 16.4% | +67.1% |
| 2017 | 10.7% | -34.6% |
| 2018 | 12.0% | +12.0% |
| 2021 | 18.2% | +51.7% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 18.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 45.1%, 40% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 18.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25.3%, 72% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Nigeria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +288.9% | 0.9% | 3.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 6.0% | 3.5% | 8.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 9.5% | 8.2% | 10.5% | 3 |
| 2010s | 11.9% | 9.8% | 16.4% | 6 |
| 2020s | 18.2% | 18.2% | 18.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 97 Guinea-Bissau 20.2% compare
- 98 Afghanistan 19.8% compare
- 99 Oman 18.8% compare
- 101 Democratic Republic of Congo 17.6% compare
- 102 Gambia 17.1% compare
- 103 Benin 16.9% compare
More reference data data for Nigeria
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 19.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 81.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 121.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 14.27 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Nigeria?
- Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Nigeria was 18.2% in 2021, 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 18.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 1982.
- How does Nigeria rank for contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods?
- Nigeria ranks 100th out of 113 countries with data for 2021.
- Is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 58.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria 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).