Unmet need for contraception in Mali

Mali: Unmet need for contraception was 23.9% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
23.9%
Change on year
down 22.1%
World rank
10th
of 58 countries
All-time high
30.7%
in 2015
All-time low
22.9%
in 1987
Years of data
7
1987–2018

Unmet need for contraception in Mali, 1987–2018

01020301987200220181987: 22.9 % of married women ages 15-491996: 27.5 % of married women ages 15-492001: 29.6 % of married women ages 15-492006: 27.6 % of married women ages 15-492013: 26 % of married women ages 15-492015: 30.7 % of married women ages 15-492018: 23.9 % 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

In 2018, unmet need for contraception in Mali stood at 23.9%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 22.1% on the previous year and down 13.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception in Mali peaked at 30.7% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 22.9%, in 1987.

That places Mali 10th out of 58 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.

Unmet need for contraception in Mali, year by year

Annual values for Unmet need for contraception (% of married women ages 15-49) in Mali, 1987 to 2018.
Year % of married women ages 15-49 Change
1987 22.9%
1996 27.5% +20.1%
2001 29.6% +7.6%
2006 27.6% -6.8%
2013 26.0% -5.8%
2015 30.7% +18.0%
2018 23.9% -22.1%

Mali compared with similar countries

  • Mali's 23.9% is above the median for low income countries, which is 21.2%, 1.1× the median. (13 countries reporting)
  • Mali's 23.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.0%, 1.1× the median. (26 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 22.9% 22.9% 22.9% 1
1990s 27.5% 27.5% 27.5% 1
2000s 28.6% 27.6% 29.6% 2
2010s 26.9% 23.9% 30.7% 3

Countries ranked near Mali

  1. 7 Mozambique 26.6% compare
  2. 8 Timor-Leste 25.3% compare
  3. 9 Sierra Leone 24.8% compare
  4. 11 Nigeria 23.9% compare
  5. 12 Ghana 23.4% compare
  6. 13 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 23.2% compare

See the full ranking of 58 places →

More health data for Mali

All data for Mali →

Frequently asked questions

What is unmet need for contraception in Mali?
Unmet need for contraception in Mali was 23.9% in 2018, 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 Mali?
The highest recorded value was 30.7% in 2015.
What is the lowest unmet need for contraception recorded in Mali?
The lowest recorded value was 22.9% in 1987.
How does Mali rank for unmet need for contraception?
Mali ranks 10th out of 58 countries with data for 2018.
Is unmet need for contraception rising or falling in Mali?
Over the last ten years it is down 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Mali 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 Mali. 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 14 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/unmet-need-for-contraception-percent-of-married-women-ages-15-49/mali/

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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.