Unmet need for contraception in Guatemala

Guatemala: Unmet need for contraception was 13.9% in 2015. ▼ Falling

Latest (2015)
13.9%
World rank
32nd
of 58 countries
All-time high
29.4%
in 1987
All-time low
13.9%
in 2015
Years of data
6
1987–2015

Unmet need for contraception in Guatemala, 1987–2015

01020301987200120151987: 29.4 % of married women ages 15-491995: 28.1 % of married women ages 15-491999: 26.8 % of married women ages 15-492002: 27.6 % of married women ages 15-492009: 20.8 % of married women ages 15-492015: 13.9 % 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 Guatemala is 13.9%, measured in 2015. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 49.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception in Guatemala peaked at 29.4% in 1987 and was at its lowest, 13.9%, in 2015.

That places Guatemala 32nd out of 58 countries with data for 2015, putting it in the middle of the range.

Unmet need for contraception in Guatemala, year by year

Annual values for Unmet need for contraception (% of married women ages 15-49) in Guatemala, 1987 to 2015.
Year % of married women ages 15-49 Change
1987 29.4%
1995 28.1% -4.4%
1999 26.8% -4.6%
2002 27.6% +3.0%
2009 20.8% -24.6%
2015 13.9% -33.2%

Guatemala compared with similar countries

  • Guatemala's 13.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.2%, 1.2× the median. (18 countries reporting)
  • Guatemala's 13.9% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12.1%, 1.1× the median. (13 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 29.4% 29.4% 29.4% 1
1990s 27.5% 26.8% 28.1% 2
2000s 24.2% 20.8% 27.6% 2
2010s 13.9% 13.9% 13.9% 1

Countries ranked near Guatemala

  1. 29 Malawi 15.4% compare
  2. 30 Dominican Republic 15.3% compare
  3. 31 Madagascar 14.6% compare
  4. 32 Kenya 13.9% compare
  5. 34 Rwanda 13.6% compare
  6. 35 Honduras 12.9% compare

See the full ranking of 58 places →

More health data for Guatemala

All data for Guatemala →

Frequently asked questions

What is unmet need for contraception in Guatemala?
Unmet need for contraception in Guatemala was 13.9% 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 Guatemala?
The highest recorded value was 29.4% in 1987.
What is the lowest unmet need for contraception recorded in Guatemala?
The lowest recorded value was 13.9% in 2015.
How does Guatemala rank for unmet need for contraception?
Guatemala ranks 32nd out of 58 countries with data for 2015.
Is unmet need for contraception rising or falling in Guatemala?
Over the last ten years it is down 49.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Guatemala 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 Guatemala. 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 15 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/unmet-need-for-contraception-percent-of-married-women-ages-15-49/guatemala/

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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.