Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone: Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods was 20.9% in 2019. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2019)
20.9%
Change on year
down 4.3%
World rank
96th
of 113 countries
All-time high
21.9%
in 2017
All-time low
3.9%
in 2000
Years of data
7
2000–2019

Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Sierra Leone, 2000–2019

51015202000200920192000: 3.9 % of women ages 15-492006: 4.9 % of women ages 15-492008: 6.7 % of women ages 15-492010: 10.2 % of women ages 15-492013: 15.6 % of women ages 15-492017: 21.9 % of women ages 15-492019: 20.9 % 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

Sierra Leone recorded 20.9% for contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in 2019.

That represents a change of down 4.3% on the previous year and up 211.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Sierra Leone peaked at 21.9% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 2000.

That places Sierra Leone 96th out of 113 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Sierra Leone, year by year

Annual values for Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Sierra Leone, 2000 to 2019.
Year % of women ages 15-49 Change
2000 3.9%
2006 4.9% +24.1%
2008 6.7% +37.3%
2010 10.2% +52.2%
2013 15.6% +53.0%
2017 21.9% +40.1%
2019 20.9% -4.3%

Sierra Leone compared with similar countries

  • Sierra Leone's 20.9% is below the median for low income countries, which is 22.9%, 91% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
  • Sierra Leone's 20.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25.3%, 83% of the median. (34 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 5.2% 3.9% 6.7% 3
2010s 17.1% 10.2% 21.9% 4

Countries ranked near Sierra Leone

  1. 93 Burundi 22.9% compare
  2. 94 Togo 21.4% compare
  3. 95 Serbia 21.3% compare
  4. 97 Guinea-Bissau 20.2% compare
  5. 98 Afghanistan 19.8% compare
  6. 99 Oman 18.8% compare

See the full ranking of 113 places →

More reference data data for Sierra Leone

All data for Sierra Leone →

Frequently asked questions

What is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Sierra Leone?
Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Sierra Leone was 20.9% in 2019, 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 Sierra Leone?
The highest recorded value was 21.9% in 2017.
What is the lowest contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods recorded in Sierra Leone?
The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 2000.
How does Sierra Leone rank for contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods?
Sierra Leone ranks 96th out of 113 countries with data for 2019.
Is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
Over the last ten years it is up 211.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Sierra Leone 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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Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Sierra Leone. Statizoid, drawing on Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 24 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/contraceptive-prevalence-any-methods-vs-modern-methods/sierra-leone/

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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).