Unmet need for contraception in Kenya
Kenya: Unmet need for contraception was 13.9% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Unmet need for contraception in Kenya, 1989–2022
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
In 2022, unmet need for contraception in Kenya stood at 13.9%.
The figure is down 2.8% on the previous year and down 20.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception in Kenya peaked at 38.0% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 12.7%, in 2020.
That places Kenya 32nd out of 58 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Unmet need for contraception in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 38.0% | — |
| 1993 | 35.3% | -7.1% |
| 1998 | 28.0% | -20.7% |
| 2003 | 27.4% | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 25.6% | -6.6% |
| 2014 | 17.5% | -31.6% |
| 2015 | 17.3% | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 15.8% | -8.5% |
| 2017 | 15.2% | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 14.3% | -5.7% |
| 2019 | 15.1% | +5.7% |
| 2020 | 12.7% | -15.9% |
| 2021 | 14.3% | +12.5% |
| 2022 | 13.9% | -2.8% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 13.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.2%, 69% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 13.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.0%, 63% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 38.0% | 38.0% | 38.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 31.6% | 28.0% | 35.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 26.5% | 25.6% | 27.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 15.9% | 14.3% | 17.5% | 6 |
| 2020s | 13.6% | 12.7% | 14.3% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More health data for Kenya
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6026 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,119 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 16,059 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 89 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 0.0621 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 Kenya?
- Unmet need for contraception in Kenya was 13.9% in 2022, 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 38.0% in 1989.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.7% in 2020.
- How does Kenya rank for unmet need for contraception?
- Kenya ranks 32nd out of 58 countries with data for 2022.
- Is unmet need for contraception rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya 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.