Unmet need for contraception in Tanzania
Tanzania: Unmet need for contraception was 21.0% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Unmet need for contraception in Tanzania, 1992–2022
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
Tanzania recorded 21.0% for unmet need for contraception in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception in Tanzania peaked at 27.8% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 21.0%, in 2022.
That places Tanzania 22nd out of 58 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Unmet need for contraception in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 27.8% | — |
| 1994 | 27.3% | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 26.0% | -4.8% |
| 1999 | 22.3% | -14.2% |
| 2005 | 24.3% | +9.0% |
| 2010 | 22.3% | -8.2% |
| 2016 | 22.1% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 21.0% | -5.0% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 21.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.2%, 1.0× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 21.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.0%, 96% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25.9% | 22.3% | 27.8% | 4 |
| 2000s | 24.3% | 24.3% | 24.3% | 1 |
| 2010s | 22.2% | 22.1% | 22.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 21.0% | 21.0% | 21.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More health data for Tanzania
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.03 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7342 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 658.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 32,514 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 13 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.86 % 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 0.0786 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.89 % 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 Tanzania?
- Unmet need for contraception in Tanzania was 21.0% in 2022, 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 Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 27.8% in 1992.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.0% in 2022.
- How does Tanzania rank for unmet need for contraception?
- Tanzania ranks 22nd out of 58 countries with data for 2022.
- Is unmet need for contraception rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Tanzania 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.