Unmet need for contraception in Cameroon
Cameroon: Unmet need for contraception was 23.0% in 2018. ▬ Flat
Unmet need for contraception in Cameroon, 1991–2018
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
Cameroon recorded 23.0% for unmet need for contraception in 2018.
That represents a change of down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception in Cameroon peaked at 23.5% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 18.0%, in 2014.
Cameroon ranks 14th of 58 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Unmet need for contraception in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 22.3% | — |
| 1998 | 20.7% | -7.2% |
| 2004 | 20.5% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 23.5% | +14.6% |
| 2014 | 18.0% | -23.5% |
| 2018 | 23.0% | +28.0% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 23.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.2%, 1.1× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 23.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.0%, 1.0× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.5% | 20.7% | 22.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 20.5% | 20.5% | 20.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 21.5% | 18.0% | 23.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More health data for Cameroon
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.28 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7821 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 786.1 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 12,841 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 17 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.22 % 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 0.0746 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.21 % 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 Cameroon?
- Unmet need for contraception in Cameroon was 23.0% 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 unmet need for contraception recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 23.5% in 2011.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.0% in 2014.
- How does Cameroon rank for unmet need for contraception?
- Cameroon ranks 14th out of 58 countries with data for 2018.
- Is unmet need for contraception rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Cameroon 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.