Unmet need for contraception in Colombia

Colombia: Unmet need for contraception was 7.0% in 2015. ▼ Falling

Latest (2015)
7.0%
World rank
55th
of 58 countries
All-time high
13.7%
in 1990
All-time low
7.0%
in 2015
Years of data
7
1986–2015

Unmet need for contraception in Colombia, 1986–2015

0510151986200020151986: 13.5 % of married women ages 15-491990: 13.7 % of married women ages 15-491995: 11.4 % of married women ages 15-492000: 10 % of married women ages 15-492005: 8.6 % of married women ages 15-492010: 8 % of married women ages 15-492015: 7 % 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 unmet need for contraception in Colombia is 7.0%, measured in 2015. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 18.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception in Colombia peaked at 13.7% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 7.0%, in 2015.

Colombia ranks 55th of 58 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Unmet need for contraception in Colombia, year by year

Annual values for Unmet need for contraception (% of married women ages 15-49) in Colombia, 1986 to 2015.
Year % of married women ages 15-49 Change
1986 13.5%
1990 13.7% +1.5%
1995 11.4% -16.8%
2000 10.0% -12.3%
2005 8.6% -14.0%
2010 8.0% -7.0%
2015 7.0% -12.5%

Colombia compared with similar countries

  • Colombia's 7.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.2%, 62% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
  • Colombia's 7.0% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12.1%, 58% of the median. (13 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 13.5% 13.5% 13.5% 1
1990s 12.6% 11.4% 13.7% 2
2000s 9.3% 8.6% 10.0% 2
2010s 7.5% 7.0% 8.0% 2

Countries ranked near Colombia

  1. 52 Peru 8.9% compare
  2. 53 United States of America 7.2% compare
  3. 54 Ecuador 7.1% compare
  4. 55 Jamaica 7.0% compare
  5. 57 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 6.6% compare
  6. 58 Nicaragua 5.8% compare

See the full ranking of 58 places →

More health data for Colombia

All data for Colombia →

Frequently asked questions

What is unmet need for contraception in Colombia?
Unmet need for contraception in Colombia was 7.0% in 2015, 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 Colombia?
The highest recorded value was 13.7% in 1990.
What is the lowest unmet need for contraception recorded in Colombia?
The lowest recorded value was 7.0% in 2015.
How does Colombia rank for unmet need for contraception?
Colombia ranks 55th out of 58 countries with data for 2015.
Is unmet need for contraception rising or falling in Colombia?
Over the last ten years it is down 18.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Colombia 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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Unmet need for contraception in Colombia. 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 16 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/unmet-need-for-contraception-percent-of-married-women-ages-15-49/colombia/

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About this data

Indicator
Unmet need for contraception (% 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
58 places, 438 data points, 1984–2024
Last refreshed

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.