BACKGROUND The long acting and permanent contraceptive methods (LAPCMs) has not used unlike that of short-acting methods in Ethiopia. Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Sub Saharan Africa with a high total fertility rate, and high maternal and child mortality rates. This study summarized the evidence of practice and intention to use long acting and permanent family planning methods among women in Ethiopia using systemic review and meta-analysis. METHODS A systematic review and meta-analysis of the published and unpublished observational studies were conducted. Original studies were identified using databases of Medline/Pubmed, and Google Scholar. Heterogeneity across studies was checked using Cochrane Q test statistic and I(2)test. The pooled proportion of intention to use and the practice of long acting and permanent contraceptive methods were computed using a/the random effect model. RESULTS Based on the ten observational studies included in the meta-analysis, the pooled prevalence of intention to use long acting and permanent contraceptive methods among married women according to the random effect model was 42.98 % (95 % CI 32.53, 53.27 %). On the other hand, the pooled practice of long acting and permanent methods of contraceptive among the study participants was 16.64 % (95 % CI 12.4 to 20.87 %). CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis revealed that women's intention to use LAPCMs is generally good but their utilization is low. It is recommended, therefore, that LAPMCs must be made more readily available and accessible to women at the lower level of health service delivery who are in need of it.