Unmet need for contraception in Pakistan
Pakistan: Unmet need for contraception was 17.3% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Unmet need for contraception in Pakistan, 1991–2018
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 Pakistan is 17.3%, measured in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is down 31.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception in Pakistan peaked at 37.5% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 17.3%, in 2018.
That places Pakistan 27th out of 58 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
Unmet need for contraception in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 30.5% | — |
| 1997 | 37.5% | +23.0% |
| 2001 | 33.0% | -12.0% |
| 2007 | 25.2% | -23.6% |
| 2013 | 20.1% | -20.2% |
| 2018 | 17.3% | -13.9% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 17.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.2%, 85% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 34.0% | 30.5% | 37.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 29.1% | 25.2% | 33.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 18.7% | 17.3% | 20.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
- 24 Zambia 19.7% compare
- 25 Senegal 19.1% compare
- 26 El Salvador 17.7% compare
- 28 Kazakhstan 15.5% compare
- 29 Malawi 15.4% compare
- 30 Dominican Republic 15.3% compare
More health data for Pakistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.14 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8219 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 944.5 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 55,286 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 335 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.5028 % 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 0.0616 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.4109 % 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 Pakistan?
- Unmet need for contraception in Pakistan was 17.3% 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 37.5% in 1997.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.3% in 2018.
- How does Pakistan rank for unmet need for contraception?
- Pakistan ranks 27th out of 58 countries with data for 2018.
- Is unmet need for contraception rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.