Share of women using contraceptives in Belgium
Belgium: Share of women using contraceptives was 66.7% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Share of women using contraceptives in Belgium, 1966–2018
Source: Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of women ages 15-49.
Analysis
In 2018, share of women using contraceptives in Belgium stood at 66.7%. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of down 9.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women using contraceptives in Belgium peaked at 87.0% in 1976 and was at its lowest, 66.7%, in 2018.
Belgium ranks 30th of 116 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of women using contraceptives in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 72.0% | — |
| 1976 | 87.0% | +20.8% |
| 1983 | 81.0% | -6.9% |
| 1992 | 78.4% | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 73.7% | -6.0% |
| 2013 | 66.8% | -9.4% |
| 2018 | 66.7% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 72.0% | 72.0% | 72.0% | 1 |
| 1970s | 87.0% | 87.0% | 87.0% | 1 |
| 1980s | 81.0% | 81.0% | 81.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 78.4% | 78.4% | 78.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 69.1% | 66.7% | 73.7% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 28 Australia 66.9% compare
- 29 Zimbabwe 66.8% compare
- 30 Hong Kong, China 66.7% compare
- 30 India 66.7% compare
- 33 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 66.5% compare
More gender data for Belgium
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 1,701 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -1.52 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 49,723 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 52,153 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 50,100 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 52,519 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 53,460 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 56,013 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 57,794 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 60,481 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women using contraceptives in Belgium?
- Share of women using contraceptives in Belgium was 66.7% in 2018, according to Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of women using contraceptives recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 87.0% in 1976.
- What is the lowest share of women using contraceptives recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 66.7% in 2018.
- How does Belgium rank for share of women using contraceptives?
- Belgium ranks 30th out of 116 countries with data for 2018.
- Is share of women using contraceptives rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of women using contraceptives. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Contraceptive prevalence rate is the percentage of women who are practicing, or whose sexual partners are practicing, any form of contraception. It is usually measured for women ages 15-49 who are married or in union.