Unmet need for contraception in Malawi
Malawi: Unmet need for contraception was 15.4% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Unmet need for contraception in Malawi, 1992–2020
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 2020, unmet need for contraception in Malawi stood at 15.4%. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 41.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception in Malawi peaked at 36.5% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 15.4%, in 2020.
Malawi ranks 29th of 58 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Unmet need for contraception in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 36.5% | — |
| 2000 | 29.9% | -18.1% |
| 2004 | 30.3% | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 26.2% | -13.5% |
| 2014 | 19.4% | -25.8% |
| 2016 | 18.7% | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 15.4% | -17.5% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 15.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 21.2%, 73% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 15.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.0%, 70% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 36.5% | 36.5% | 36.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 30.1% | 29.9% | 30.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 21.4% | 18.7% | 26.2% | 3 |
| 2020s | 15.4% | 15.4% | 15.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 26 El Salvador 17.7% compare
- 27 Pakistan 17.3% compare
- 28 Kazakhstan 15.5% compare
- 30 Dominican Republic 15.3% compare
- 31 Madagascar 14.6% compare
- 32 Guatemala 13.9% compare
- 32 Kenya 13.9% compare
More health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 856.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,399 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.61 % 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 0.0714 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.63 % 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 Malawi?
- Unmet need for contraception in Malawi was 15.4% in 2020, 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 Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 36.5% in 1992.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.4% in 2020.
- How does Malawi rank for unmet need for contraception?
- Malawi ranks 29th out of 58 countries with data for 2020.
- Is unmet need for contraception rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi 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.