Unmet need for contraception in Nicaragua

Nicaragua: Unmet need for contraception was 5.8% in 2012. ▼ Falling

Latest (2012)
5.8%
World rank
58th
of 58 countries
All-time high
23.9%
in 1993
All-time low
5.8%
in 2012
Years of data
5
1993–2012

Unmet need for contraception in Nicaragua, 1993–2012

5101520251993200220121993: 23.9 % of married women ages 15-491998: 17.9 % of married women ages 15-492001: 14.6 % of married women ages 15-492007: 7.5 % of married women ages 15-492012: 5.8 % 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

The most recent figure for unmet need for contraception in Nicaragua is 5.8%, measured in 2012. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 60.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception in Nicaragua peaked at 23.9% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 5.8%, in 2012.

Nicaragua ranks 58th of 58 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Unmet need for contraception in Nicaragua, year by year

Annual values for Unmet need for contraception (% of married women ages 15-49) in Nicaragua, 1993 to 2012.
Year % of married women ages 15-49 Change
1993 23.9%
1998 17.9% -25.1%
2001 14.6% -18.4%
2007 7.5% -48.5%
2012 5.8% -22.9%

Nicaragua compared with similar countries

  • Nicaragua's 5.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.2%, 29% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
  • Nicaragua's 5.8% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12.1%, 48% of the median. (13 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 20.9% 17.9% 23.9% 2
2000s 11.1% 7.5% 14.6% 2
2010s 5.8% 5.8% 5.8% 1

Countries ranked near Nicaragua

  1. 55 Colombia 7.0% compare
  2. 55 Jamaica 7.0% compare
  3. 57 North Korea 6.6% compare

See the full ranking of 58 places →

More health data for Nicaragua

All data for Nicaragua →

Frequently asked questions

What is unmet need for contraception in Nicaragua?
Unmet need for contraception in Nicaragua was 5.8% in 2012, 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 Nicaragua?
The highest recorded value was 23.9% in 1993.
What is the lowest unmet need for contraception recorded in Nicaragua?
The lowest recorded value was 5.8% in 2012.
How does Nicaragua rank for unmet need for contraception?
Nicaragua ranks 58th out of 58 countries with data for 2012.
Is unmet need for contraception rising or falling in Nicaragua?
Over the last ten years it is down 60.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Nicaragua 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 Nicaragua. 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/nicaragua/

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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.