Unmet need for contraception in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Unmet need for contraception was 21.2% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Unmet need for contraception in Ethiopia, 2000–2021
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
The most recent figure for unmet need for contraception in Ethiopia is 21.2%, measured in 2021.
The figure is up 10.5% on the previous year and down 19.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception in Ethiopia peaked at 36.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 19.2%, in 2020.
That places Ethiopia 19th out of 58 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Unmet need for contraception in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 36.6% | — |
| 2005 | 36.1% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 26.3% | -27.1% |
| 2014 | 26.4% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 24.4% | -7.5% |
| 2016 | 22.3% | -8.7% |
| 2017 | 22.9% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 20.6% | -10.1% |
| 2019 | 19.9% | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 19.2% | -3.6% |
| 2021 | 21.2% | +10.5% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 21.2% is above the median for low income countries, which is 21.2%, 1.0× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 21.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.0%, 97% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 36.4% | 36.1% | 36.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 23.3% | 19.9% | 26.4% | 7 |
| 2020s | 20.2% | 19.2% | 21.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 16 Côte d'Ivoire 22.4% compare
- 17 Guinea 22.1% compare
- 18 Uganda 21.8% compare
- 20 Niger 21.1% compare
- 21 Burkina Faso 21.0% compare
- 22 Tanzania, United Republic of 21.0% compare
More health data for Ethiopia
- 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 0.9494 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 744.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 19,997 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 148 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0709 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unmet need for contraception in Ethiopia?
- Unmet need for contraception in Ethiopia was 21.2% 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 36.6% in 2000.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.2% in 2020.
- How does Ethiopia rank for unmet need for contraception?
- Ethiopia ranks 19th out of 58 countries with data for 2021.
- Is unmet need for contraception rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.