Unmet need for contraception in North Korea

North Korea: Unmet need for contraception was 6.6% in 2017. ▼ Falling

Latest (2017)
6.6%
Change on year
down 5.7%
World rank
57th
of 58 countries
All-time high
16.7%
in 2002
All-time low
6.6%
in 2017
Years of data
5
2002–2017

Unmet need for contraception in North Korea, 2002–2017

0510152002200920172002: 16.7 % of married women ages 15-492006: 15.8 % of married women ages 15-492010: 14.5 % of married women ages 15-492014: 7 % of married women ages 15-492017: 6.6 % 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

In 2017, unmet need for contraception in North Korea stood at 6.6%. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.7% on the previous year and down 58.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception in North Korea peaked at 16.7% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 6.6%, in 2017.

North Korea ranks 57th of 58 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Unmet need for contraception in North Korea, year by year

Annual values for Unmet need for contraception (% of married women ages 15-49) in North Korea, 2002 to 2017.
Year % of married women ages 15-49 Change
2002 16.7%
2006 15.8% -5.4%
2010 14.5% -8.2%
2014 7.0% -51.7%
2017 6.6% -5.7%

North Korea compared with similar countries

  • North Korea's 6.6% is below the median for low income countries, which is 21.2%, 31% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
  • North Korea's 6.6% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 11.1%, 60% of the median. (8 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 16.2% 15.8% 16.7% 2
2010s 9.4% 6.6% 14.5% 3

Countries ranked near North Korea

  1. 54 Ecuador 7.1% compare
  2. 55 Colombia 7.0% compare
  3. 55 Jamaica 7.0% compare
  4. 58 Nicaragua 5.8% compare

See the full ranking of 58 places →

More health data for North Korea

All data for North Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is unmet need for contraception in North Korea?
Unmet need for contraception in North Korea was 6.6% in 2017, 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 North Korea?
The highest recorded value was 16.7% in 2002.
What is the lowest unmet need for contraception recorded in North Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 6.6% in 2017.
How does North Korea rank for unmet need for contraception?
North Korea ranks 57th out of 58 countries with data for 2017.
Is unmet need for contraception rising or falling in North Korea?
Over the last ten years it is down 58.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this North Korea 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 North Korea. 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 17 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/unmet-need-for-contraception-percent-of-married-women-ages-15-49/korea-dem-people-s-rep/

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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.