Unmet need for contraception in Uganda
Uganda: Unmet need for contraception was 21.8% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Unmet need for contraception in Uganda, 1995–2022
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
The most recent figure for unmet need for contraception in Uganda is 21.8%, measured in 2022.
The figure is up 2.6% on the previous year and down 36.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception in Uganda peaked at 39.9% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 21.2%, in 2021.
That places Uganda 18th out of 58 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
Unmet need for contraception in Uganda, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 30.0% | — |
| 2001 | 35.0% | +16.7% |
| 2006 | 38.0% | +8.6% |
| 2011 | 34.3% | -9.7% |
| 2014 | 39.9% | +16.3% |
| 2015 | 32.8% | -17.8% |
| 2016 | 28.4% | -13.4% |
| 2017 | 31.9% | +12.4% |
| 2018 | 27.2% | -14.9% |
| 2020 | 23.5% | -13.5% |
| 2021 | 21.2% | -9.6% |
| 2022 | 21.8% | +2.6% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 21.8% is above the median for low income countries, which is 21.2%, 1.0× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 21.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.0%, 99% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30.0% | 30.0% | 30.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 36.5% | 35.0% | 38.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 32.4% | 27.2% | 39.9% | 6 |
| 2020s | 22.2% | 21.2% | 23.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More health data for Uganda
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.34 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 853.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,666 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 111 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 0.0787 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.34 % 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 Uganda?
- Unmet need for contraception in Uganda was 21.8% 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 Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 39.9% in 2014.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.2% in 2021.
- How does Uganda rank for unmet need for contraception?
- Uganda ranks 18th out of 58 countries with data for 2022.
- Is unmet need for contraception rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Uganda 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.