Contraceptive prevalence, any modern method in Nigeria
Nigeria: Contraceptive prevalence, any modern method was 18.2% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Contraceptive prevalence, any modern method in Nigeria, 1982–2021
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
Nigeria recorded 18.2% for contraceptive prevalence, any modern method in 2021. 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 prevalence, any modern method in Nigeria peaked at 18.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 1982.
Nigeria ranks 100th of 113 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Contraceptive prevalence, any modern method in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % of married 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 prevalence, any modern method 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 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 17.6% compare
- 102 Gambia 17.1% compare
- 103 Benin 16.9% compare
More health data for Nigeria
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8137 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,301 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 257,921 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 14 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.14 % 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 0.0711 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is contraceptive prevalence, any modern method in Nigeria?
- Contraceptive prevalence, any modern method in Nigeria was 18.2% in 2021, 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 modern method recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 18.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest contraceptive prevalence, any modern method recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 1982.
- How does Nigeria rank for contraceptive prevalence, any modern method?
- Nigeria ranks 100th out of 113 countries with data for 2021.
- Is contraceptive prevalence, any modern method 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 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 modern 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 modern method is the percentage of married women ages 15-49 who are practicing, or whose sexual partners are practicing, at least one modern method of contraception. 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.