Contraceptive prevalence, any method (% of married women ages 15-49) in United States
United States: Contraceptive prevalence, any method (% of married women ages 15-49) was 73.9% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Contraceptive prevalence, any method in United States, 1965–2019
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
United States recorded 73.9% for contraceptive prevalence, any method in 2019.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.7% on the previous year and down 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, contraceptive prevalence, any method in United States peaked at 79.0% in 1975 and was at its lowest, 66.5%, in 1965.
That places United States 13th out of 116 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Contraceptive prevalence, any method (% of married women ages 15-49) in United States, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 66.5% | — |
| 1970 | 67.6% | +1.7% |
| 1973 | 69.6% | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 79.0% | +13.5% |
| 1976 | 67.7% | -14.3% |
| 1982 | 69.7% | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 74.3% | +6.6% |
| 1990 | 70.7% | -4.8% |
| 1995 | 76.4% | +8.1% |
| 2002 | 72.8% | -4.7% |
| 2008 | 77.1% | +5.9% |
| 2010 | 76.4% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 72.7% | -4.9% |
| 2017 | 75.9% | +4.5% |
| 2019 | 73.9% | -2.7% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 73.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 66.8%, 1.1× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 66.5% | 66.5% | 66.5% | 1 |
| 1970s | 71.0% | 67.6% | 79.0% | 4 |
| 1980s | 72.0% | 69.7% | 74.3% | 2 |
| 1990s | 73.6% | 70.7% | 76.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 75.0% | 72.8% | 77.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 74.7% | 72.7% | 76.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
More health data for United States
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,015 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.056 % 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 0.0261 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1919 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0274 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is contraceptive prevalence, any method in United States?
- Contraceptive prevalence, any method in United States was 73.9% in 2019, 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 79.0% in 1975.
- What is the lowest contraceptive prevalence, any method recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 66.5% in 1965.
- How does United States rank for contraceptive prevalence, any method?
- United States ranks 13th out of 116 countries with data for 2019.
- Is contraceptive prevalence, any method rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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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About this data
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.