Unmet need for contraception in India
India: Unmet need for contraception was 9.4% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Unmet need for contraception in India, 1993–2021
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 India is 9.4%, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 54.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception in India peaked at 21.1% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 9.4%, in 2021.
India ranks 50th of 58 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Unmet need for contraception in India, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 20.3% | — |
| 1999 | 16.1% | -20.7% |
| 2004 | 21.1% | +31.1% |
| 2006 | 13.9% | -34.1% |
| 2008 | 20.5% | +47.5% |
| 2016 | 12.9% | -37.1% |
| 2021 | 9.4% | -27.1% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 9.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.2%, 46% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.2% | 16.1% | 20.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 18.5% | 13.9% | 21.1% | 3 |
| 2010s | 12.9% | 12.9% | 12.9% | 1 |
| 2020s | 9.4% | 9.4% | 9.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
More health data for India
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4372 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,332 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 44,822 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.3809 % 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 0.0372 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5922 % 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 India?
- Unmet need for contraception in India was 9.4% 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 21.1% in 2004.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.4% in 2021.
- How does India rank for unmet need for contraception?
- India ranks 50th out of 58 countries with data for 2021.
- Is unmet need for contraception rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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.