Contraceptive prevalence, any modern method in Costa Rica

Costa Rica: Contraceptive prevalence, any modern method was 70.0% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
70.0%
Change on year
down 6.5%
World rank
12th
of 113 countries
All-time high
74.9%
in 2015
All-time low
53.5%
in 1976
Years of data
8
1976–2018

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

0204060801976199720181976: 53.5 % of married women ages 15-491981: 55.9 % of married women ages 15-491986: 58 % of married women ages 15-491993: 65 % of married women ages 15-491999: 71 % of married women ages 15-492011: 74.7 % of married women ages 15-492015: 74.9 % of married women ages 15-492018: 70 % 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

Costa Rica recorded 70.0% for contraceptive prevalence, any modern method in 2018.

The figure is down 6.5% on the previous year and down 6.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, contraceptive prevalence, any modern method in Costa Rica peaked at 74.9% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 53.5%, in 1976.

Costa Rica ranks 12th of 113 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

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

Annual values for Contraceptive prevalence, any modern method (% of married women ages 15-49) in Costa Rica, 1976 to 2018.
Year % of married women ages 15-49 Change
1976 53.5%
1981 55.9% +4.5%
1986 58.0% +3.8%
1993 65.0% +12.1%
1999 71.0% +9.2%
2011 74.7% +5.3%
2015 74.9% +0.2%
2018 70.0% -6.5%

Costa Rica compared with similar countries

  • Costa Rica's 70.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 60.4%, 1.2× the median. (24 countries reporting)
  • Costa Rica's 70.0% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 59.0%, 1.2× the median. (18 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 53.5% 53.5% 53.5% 1
1980s 57.0% 55.9% 58.0% 2
1990s 68.0% 65.0% 71.0% 2
2010s 73.2% 70.0% 74.9% 3

Countries ranked near Costa Rica

  1. 9 Ecuador 72.4% compare
  2. 10 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 71.1% compare
  3. 11 Thailand 70.7% compare
  4. 13 Mexico 69.1% compare
  5. 14 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 68.8% compare
  6. 15 Korea 67.6% compare

See the full ranking of 113 places →

More health data for Costa Rica

All data for Costa Rica →

Frequently asked questions

What is contraceptive prevalence, any modern method in Costa Rica?
Contraceptive prevalence, any modern method in Costa Rica was 70.0% 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 modern method recorded in Costa Rica?
The highest recorded value was 74.9% in 2015.
What is the lowest contraceptive prevalence, any modern method recorded in Costa Rica?
The lowest recorded value was 53.5% in 1976.
How does Costa Rica rank for contraceptive prevalence, any modern method?
Costa Rica ranks 12th out of 113 countries with data for 2018.
Is contraceptive prevalence, any modern method rising or falling in Costa Rica?
Over the last ten years it is down 6.3%. 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 modern method (% of married women ages 15-49). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Contraceptive prevalence, any modern 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-modern-method-percent-of-married-women-ages-15-49/costa-rica/

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About this data

Indicator
Contraceptive prevalence, any modern 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
113 places, 1,022 data points, 1961–2024
Last refreshed

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.