Contraceptive prevalence, any method (% of married women ages 15-49) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Contraceptive prevalence, any method (% of married women ages 15-49) was 67.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Contraceptive prevalence, any method in Lesotho, 1977–2024
Source: Household surveys, United Nations (UN), note: Household surveys, including Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. Largely compiled by United Nations Population Division. Measured in % of married women ages 15-49.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 67.4% for contraceptive prevalence, any method in 2024. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.
The figure is up 12.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, contraceptive prevalence, any method in Lesotho peaked at 67.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 6.0%, in 1977.
That places Lesotho 26th out of 116 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Contraceptive prevalence, any method (% of married women ages 15-49) in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 6.0% | — |
| 1995 | 28.6% | +376.7% |
| 2000 | 30.4% | +6.4% |
| 2001 | 40.6% | +33.4% |
| 2002 | 38.0% | -6.4% |
| 2004 | 37.3% | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 47.0% | +26.0% |
| 2011 | 63.4% | +34.9% |
| 2014 | 60.2% | -5.1% |
| 2018 | 64.9% | +7.9% |
| 2024 | 67.4% | +3.8% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 67.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 54.0%, 1.2× the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 67.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 28.5%, 2.4× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.0% | 6.0% | 6.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 28.6% | 28.6% | 28.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 38.7% | 30.4% | 47.0% | 5 |
| 2010s | 62.9% | 60.2% | 64.9% | 3 |
| 2020s | 67.4% | 67.4% | 67.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More health data for Lesotho
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.05 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4669 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 382 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2020)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.8108 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0548 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7473 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0557 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is contraceptive prevalence, any method in Lesotho?
- Contraceptive prevalence, any method in Lesotho was 67.4% in 2024, according to Household surveys, United Nations (UN), note: Household surveys, including Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. Largely compiled by United Nations Population Division.
- What is the highest contraceptive prevalence, any method recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 67.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest contraceptive prevalence, any method recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.0% in 1977.
- How does Lesotho rank for contraceptive prevalence, any method?
- Lesotho ranks 26th out of 116 countries with data for 2024.
- Is contraceptive prevalence, any method rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Household surveys, United Nations (UN), note: Household surveys, including Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. Largely compiled by United Nations Population Division, published as part of Contraceptive prevalence, any method (% of married women ages 15-49). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Contraceptive prevalence, any method is the percentage of married women ages 15-49 who are practicing, or whose sexual partners are practicing, any method of contraception (modern or traditional). Modern methods of contraception include female and male sterilization, oral hormonal pills, the intra-uterine device (IUD), the male condom, injectables, the implant (including Norplant), vaginal barrier methods, the female condom and emergency contraception. Traditional methods of contraception include rhythm (e.g., fertility awareness based methods, periodic abstinence), withdrawal and other traditional methods.