Unmet need for contraception in United States
United States: Unmet need for contraception was 7.2% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Unmet need for contraception in United States, 1988–2019
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 2019, unmet need for contraception in United States stood at 7.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 24.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception in United States peaked at 9.0% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 4.0%, in 1988.
That places United States 53rd out of 58 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Unmet need for contraception in United States, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 4.0% | — |
| 1990 | 6.0% | +50.0% |
| 2002 | 6.3% | +5.0% |
| 2008 | 5.8% | -7.9% |
| 2010 | 8.0% | +37.9% |
| 2015 | 9.0% | +12.5% |
| 2019 | 7.2% | -20.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.0% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 6.0% | 6.0% | 6.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 6.0% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 8.1% | 7.2% | 9.0% | 3 |
Countries ranked near United States
More health data for United States
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,069 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,015 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.056 % 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 0.0261 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1919 % 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 United States?
- Unmet need for contraception in United States was 7.2% in 2019, 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 9.0% in 2015.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.0% in 1988.
- How does United States rank for unmet need for contraception?
- United States ranks 53rd out of 58 countries with data for 2019.
- Is unmet need for contraception rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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.