Unmet need for contraception in El Salvador
El Salvador: Unmet need for contraception was 17.7% in 2021. ▬ Flat
Unmet need for contraception in El Salvador, 1988–2021
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
El Salvador recorded 17.7% for unmet need for contraception in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception in El Salvador peaked at 18.4% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 8.9%, in 2003.
That places El Salvador 26th out of 58 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Unmet need for contraception in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 16.2% | — |
| 1993 | 15.8% | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 14.2% | -10.1% |
| 2003 | 8.9% | -37.3% |
| 2008 | 18.4% | +106.7% |
| 2014 | 11.1% | -39.7% |
| 2021 | 17.7% | +59.6% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 17.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.2%, 1.6× the median. (18 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 17.7% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12.1%, 1.5× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 16.2% | 16.2% | 16.2% | 1 |
| 1990s | 15.0% | 14.2% | 15.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 13.6% | 8.9% | 18.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 11.1% | 11.1% | 11.1% | 1 |
| 2020s | 17.7% | 17.7% | 17.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
More health data for El Salvador
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.89 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4574 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,537 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 104 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.9135 % 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 0.0374 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.8849 % 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 El Salvador?
- Unmet need for contraception in El Salvador was 17.7% in 2021, 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 El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 18.4% in 2008.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.9% in 2003.
- How does El Salvador rank for unmet need for contraception?
- El Salvador ranks 26th out of 58 countries with data for 2021.
- Is unmet need for contraception rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this El Salvador 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.