Unmet need for contraception in Zambia
Zambia: Unmet need for contraception was 19.7% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Unmet need for contraception in Zambia, 1992–2018
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 2018, unmet need for contraception in Zambia stood at 19.7%. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
That represents a change of down 25.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception in Zambia peaked at 30.0% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 19.7%, in 2018.
That places Zambia 24th out of 58 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
Unmet need for contraception in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 30.0% | — |
| 1996 | 25.2% | -16.0% |
| 2002 | 27.5% | +9.1% |
| 2007 | 26.6% | -3.3% |
| 2014 | 21.1% | -20.7% |
| 2018 | 19.7% | -6.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 19.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.2%, 97% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 19.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.0%, 90% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 27.6% | 25.2% | 30.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 27.1% | 26.6% | 27.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 20.4% | 19.7% | 21.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 21 Burkina Faso 21.0% compare
- 22 Tanzania, United Republic of 21.0% compare
- 23 Nepal 20.8% compare
- 25 Senegal 19.1% compare
- 26 El Salvador 17.7% compare
- 27 Pakistan 17.3% compare
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,894 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % 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 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.69 % 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 Zambia?
- Unmet need for contraception in Zambia was 19.7% in 2018, 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 30.0% in 1992.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.7% in 2018.
- How does Zambia rank for unmet need for contraception?
- Zambia ranks 24th out of 58 countries with data for 2018.
- Is unmet need for contraception rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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.