Unmet need for contraception in Senegal
Senegal: Unmet need for contraception was 19.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Unmet need for contraception in Senegal, 1986–2023
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 2023, unmet need for contraception in Senegal stood at 19.1%. That is the lowest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is down 34.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception in Senegal peaked at 37.0% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 19.1%, in 2023.
That places Senegal 25th out of 58 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Unmet need for contraception in Senegal, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 37.0% | — |
| 1993 | 28.8% | -22.2% |
| 1997 | 35.0% | +21.5% |
| 2005 | 32.0% | -8.6% |
| 2011 | 30.1% | -5.9% |
| 2013 | 29.2% | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 25.6% | -12.3% |
| 2015 | 25.2% | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 23.6% | -6.3% |
| 2017 | 21.9% | -7.2% |
| 2018 | 20.6% | -5.9% |
| 2019 | 21.7% | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 19.1% | -12.0% |
Senegal compared with similar countries
- Senegal's 19.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.2%, 94% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Senegal's 19.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.0%, 87% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 37.0% | 37.0% | 37.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 31.9% | 28.8% | 35.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 32.0% | 32.0% | 32.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 24.7% | 20.6% | 30.1% | 8 |
| 2020s | 19.1% | 19.1% | 19.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Senegal
- 22 Tanzania, United Republic of 21.0% compare
- 23 Nepal 20.8% compare
- 24 Zambia 19.7% compare
- 26 El Salvador 17.7% compare
- 27 Pakistan 17.3% compare
- 28 Kazakhstan 15.5% compare
More health data for Senegal
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.58 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7598 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 835.5 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 2,496 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 3 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 2.42 % 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 0.0658 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.29 % 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 Senegal?
- Unmet need for contraception in Senegal was 19.1% in 2023, 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 Senegal?
- The highest recorded value was 37.0% in 1986.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception recorded in Senegal?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.1% in 2023.
- How does Senegal rank for unmet need for contraception?
- Senegal ranks 25th out of 58 countries with data for 2023.
- Is unmet need for contraception rising or falling in Senegal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Senegal 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.