Contraceptive prevalence, any method in Malawi

Malawi: Contraceptive prevalence, any method was 65.6% in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
65.6%
World rank
34th
of 116 countries
All-time high
65.6%
in 2020
All-time low
6.9%
in 1984
Years of data
10
1984–2020

Contraceptive prevalence, any method in Malawi, 1984–2020

02040601984200220201984: 6.9 % of married women ages 15-491992: 13 % of married women ages 15-491996: 21.9 % of married women ages 15-492000: 30.6 % of married women ages 15-492004: 32.5 % of married women ages 15-492006: 41 % of married women ages 15-492010: 46.1 % of married women ages 15-492014: 58.6 % of married women ages 15-492016: 59.2 % of married women ages 15-492020: 65.6 % of married women ages 15-49

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

Malawi recorded 65.6% for contraceptive prevalence, any method in 2020. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.

The figure is up 42.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, contraceptive prevalence, any method in Malawi peaked at 65.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 6.9%, in 1984.

Malawi ranks 34th of 116 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Contraceptive prevalence, any method in Malawi, year by year

Annual values for Contraceptive prevalence, any method (% of married women ages 15-49) in Malawi, 1984 to 2020.
Year % of married women ages 15-49 Change
1984 6.9%
1992 13.0% +88.4%
1996 21.9% +68.5%
2000 30.6% +39.7%
2004 32.5% +6.2%
2006 41.0% +26.2%
2010 46.1% +12.4%
2014 58.6% +27.1%
2016 59.2% +1.0%
2020 65.6% +10.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 6.9% 6.9% 6.9% 1
1990s 17.4% 13.0% 21.9% 2
2000s 34.7% 30.6% 41.0% 3
2010s 54.6% 46.1% 59.2% 3
2020s 65.6% 65.6% 65.6% 1

Countries ranked near Malawi

  1. 33 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 66.5% compare
  2. 35 Ukraine 65.5% compare
  3. 36 Sri Lanka 64.6% compare
  4. 37 Rwanda 64.1% compare

See the full ranking of 116 places →

More health data for Malawi

All data for Malawi →

Frequently asked questions

What is contraceptive prevalence, any method in Malawi?
Contraceptive prevalence, any method in Malawi was 65.6% in 2020, 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 Malawi?
The highest recorded value was 65.6% in 2020.
What is the lowest contraceptive prevalence, any method recorded in Malawi?
The lowest recorded value was 6.9% in 1984.
How does Malawi rank for contraceptive prevalence, any method?
Malawi ranks 34th out of 116 countries with data for 2020.
Is contraceptive prevalence, any method rising or falling in Malawi?
Over the last ten years it is up 42.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Malawi 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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Contraceptive prevalence, any method in Malawi. Statizoid, drawing on 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. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/contraceptive-prevalence-any-method-percent-of-married-women-ages-15-49/malawi/

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About this data

Indicator
Contraceptive prevalence, any method (% of married women ages 15-49)
Unit
% of married women ages 15-49
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
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
116 places, 1,076 data points, 1961–2024
Last refreshed

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.