Unmet need for contraception in Nepal
Nepal: Unmet need for contraception was 20.8% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Unmet need for contraception in Nepal, 1992–2022
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
In 2022, unmet need for contraception in Nepal stood at 20.8%. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 15.8% on the previous year and down 24.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception in Nepal peaked at 32.4% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 20.8%, in 2022.
Nepal ranks 23rd of 58 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Unmet need for contraception in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 27.7% | — |
| 1996 | 32.4% | +17.0% |
| 2001 | 27.8% | -14.2% |
| 2006 | 24.7% | -11.2% |
| 2011 | 27.5% | +11.3% |
| 2014 | 25.2% | -8.3% |
| 2016 | 23.7% | -6.0% |
| 2019 | 24.7% | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 20.8% | -15.8% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 20.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.2%, 1.0× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30.0% | 27.7% | 32.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 26.2% | 24.7% | 27.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 25.3% | 23.7% | 27.5% | 4 |
| 2020s | 20.8% | 20.8% | 20.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
- 20 Niger 21.1% compare
- 21 Burkina Faso 21.0% compare
- 22 Tanzania, United Republic of 21.0% compare
- 24 Zambia 19.7% compare
- 25 Senegal 19.1% compare
- 26 El Salvador 17.7% compare
More health data for Nepal
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.95 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8518 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,326 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 955 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 3 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0451 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unmet need for contraception in Nepal?
- Unmet need for contraception in Nepal was 20.8% in 2022, 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 unmet need for contraception recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 32.4% in 1996.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.8% in 2022.
- How does Nepal rank for unmet need for contraception?
- Nepal ranks 23rd out of 58 countries with data for 2022.
- Is unmet need for contraception rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nepal 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 Unmet need for contraception (% of married women ages 15-49). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unmet need for contraception is the percentage of fertile, married women of reproductive age who do not want to become pregnant and are not using contraception.