Unmet need for contraception in Rwanda
Rwanda: Unmet need for contraception was 13.6% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Unmet need for contraception in Rwanda, 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
Rwanda recorded 13.6% for unmet need for contraception in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 34.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception in Rwanda peaked at 38.5% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 13.6%, in 2020.
That places Rwanda 34th out of 58 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
Unmet need for contraception in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 38.2% | — |
| 2000 | 36.4% | -4.7% |
| 2005 | 38.5% | +5.8% |
| 2008 | 34.4% | -10.6% |
| 2010 | 20.8% | -39.5% |
| 2015 | 18.9% | -9.1% |
| 2020 | 13.6% | -28.0% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 13.6% is below the median for low income countries, which is 21.2%, 64% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 13.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.0%, 62% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 38.2% | 38.2% | 38.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 36.4% | 34.4% | 38.5% | 3 |
| 2010s | 19.9% | 18.9% | 20.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 13.6% | 13.6% | 13.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More health data for Rwanda
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.891 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 860.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 2,738 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.9441 % 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 0.065 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9697 % 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 Rwanda?
- Unmet need for contraception in Rwanda was 13.6% 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 38.5% in 2005.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.6% in 2020.
- How does Rwanda rank for unmet need for contraception?
- Rwanda ranks 34th out of 58 countries with data for 2020.
- Is unmet need for contraception rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.