Contraceptive prevalence, any method in Costa Rica

Costa Rica: Contraceptive prevalence, any method was 70.9% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
70.9%
Change on year
down 8.9%
World rank
18th
of 116 countries
All-time high
82.1%
in 2010
All-time low
63.5%
in 1978
Years of data
10
1976–2018

Contraceptive prevalence, any method in Costa Rica, 1976–2018

0204060801976199720181976: 64.4 % of married women ages 15-491978: 63.5 % of married women ages 15-491981: 65.2 % of married women ages 15-491986: 69 % of married women ages 15-491993: 75 % of married women ages 15-491999: 80 % of married women ages 15-492010: 82.1 % of married women ages 15-492011: 76.2 % of married women ages 15-492015: 77.8 % of married women ages 15-492018: 70.9 % 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

The most recent figure for contraceptive prevalence, any method in Costa Rica is 70.9%, measured in 2018.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.9% on the previous year and down 13.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, contraceptive prevalence, any method in Costa Rica peaked at 82.1% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 63.5%, in 1978.

Costa Rica ranks 18th of 116 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 10 years of available data.

Contraceptive prevalence, any method in Costa Rica, year by year

Annual values for Contraceptive prevalence, any method (% of married women ages 15-49) in Costa Rica, 1976 to 2018.
Year % of married women ages 15-49 Change
1976 64.4%
1978 63.5% -1.4%
1981 65.2% +2.7%
1986 69.0% +5.8%
1993 75.0% +8.7%
1999 80.0% +6.7%
2010 82.1% +2.6%
2011 76.2% -7.1%
2015 77.8% +2.0%
2018 70.9% -8.9%

Costa Rica compared with similar countries

  • Costa Rica's 70.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 66.8%, 1.1× the median. (26 countries reporting)
  • Costa Rica's 70.9% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 64.6%, 1.1× the median. (18 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 64.0% 63.5% 64.4% 2
1980s 67.1% 65.2% 69.0% 2
1990s 77.5% 75.0% 80.0% 2
2010s 76.8% 70.9% 82.1% 4

Countries ranked near Costa Rica

  1. 15 Thailand 72.8% compare
  2. 15 Viet Nam 72.8% compare
  3. 17 Mexico 71.8% compare
  4. 19 Morocco 70.8% compare
  5. 20 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 70.2% compare
  6. 21 Bulgaria 70.1% compare

See the full ranking of 116 places →

More health data for Costa Rica

All data for Costa Rica →

Frequently asked questions

What is contraceptive prevalence, any method in Costa Rica?
Contraceptive prevalence, any method in Costa Rica was 70.9% in 2018, 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 Costa Rica?
The highest recorded value was 82.1% in 2010.
What is the lowest contraceptive prevalence, any method recorded in Costa Rica?
The lowest recorded value was 63.5% in 1978.
How does Costa Rica rank for contraceptive prevalence, any method?
Costa Rica ranks 18th out of 116 countries with data for 2018.
Is contraceptive prevalence, any method rising or falling in Costa Rica?
Over the last ten years it is down 13.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Costa Rica 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 Costa Rica. 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 14 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/contraceptive-prevalence-any-method-percent-of-married-women-ages-15-49/costa-rica/

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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.