Unmet need for contraception in Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste: Unmet need for contraception was 25.3% in 2016. ▲ Rising

Latest (2016)
25.3%
World rank
8th
of 58 countries
All-time high
31.5%
in 2010
All-time low
13.3%
in 1994
Years of data
5
1991–2016

Unmet need for contraception in Timor-Leste, 1991–2016

01020301991200320161991: 16.6 % of married women ages 15-491994: 13.3 % of married women ages 15-491997: 17.4 % of married women ages 15-492010: 31.5 % of married women ages 15-492016: 25.3 % 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 Timor-Leste is 25.3%, measured in 2016.

That represents a change of down 19.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception in Timor-Leste peaked at 31.5% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 13.3%, in 1994.

Timor-Leste ranks 8th of 58 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Unmet need for contraception in Timor-Leste, year by year

Annual values for Unmet need for contraception (% of married women ages 15-49) in Timor-Leste, 1991 to 2016.
Year % of married women ages 15-49 Change
1991 16.6%
1994 13.3% -19.9%
1997 17.4% +30.8%
2010 31.5% +81.0%
2016 25.3% -19.7%

Timor-Leste compared with similar countries

  • Timor-Leste's 25.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.2%, 1.2× the median. (26 countries reporting)
  • Timor-Leste's 25.3% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 11.1%, 2.3× the median. (8 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 15.8% 13.3% 17.4% 3
2010s 28.4% 25.3% 31.5% 2

Countries ranked near Timor-Leste

  1. 5 Benin 29.9% compare
  2. 6 Burundi 29.7% compare
  3. 7 Mozambique 26.6% compare
  4. 9 Sierra Leone 24.8% compare
  5. 10 Mali 23.9% compare
  6. 11 Nigeria 23.9% compare

See the full ranking of 58 places →

More health data for Timor-Leste

All data for Timor-Leste →

Frequently asked questions

What is unmet need for contraception in Timor-Leste?
Unmet need for contraception in Timor-Leste was 25.3% in 2016, 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 Timor-Leste?
The highest recorded value was 31.5% in 2010.
What is the lowest unmet need for contraception recorded in Timor-Leste?
The lowest recorded value was 13.3% in 1994.
How does Timor-Leste rank for unmet need for contraception?
Timor-Leste ranks 8th out of 58 countries with data for 2016.
Is unmet need for contraception rising or falling in Timor-Leste?
Over the last ten years it is down 19.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Timor-Leste 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 Timor-Leste. 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 16 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/unmet-need-for-contraception-percent-of-married-women-ages-15-49/timor-leste/

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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.