Share of women using contraceptives in Cameroon
Cameroon: Share of women using contraceptives was 19.3% in 2018. ▲ Rising
Share of women using contraceptives in Cameroon, 1978–2018
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
The most recent figure for share of women using contraceptives in Cameroon is 19.3%, measured in 2018.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 33.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women using contraceptives in Cameroon peaked at 34.3% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 1978.
Cameroon ranks 107th of 116 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Share of women using contraceptives in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 2.2% | — |
| 1991 | 16.1% | +631.8% |
| 1998 | 19.3% | +19.9% |
| 2000 | 25.2% | +30.6% |
| 2004 | 26.0% | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 29.2% | +12.3% |
| 2011 | 23.4% | -19.9% |
| 2014 | 34.3% | +46.8% |
| 2018 | 19.3% | -43.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1 |
| 1990s | 17.7% | 16.1% | 19.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 26.8% | 25.2% | 29.2% | 3 |
| 2010s | 25.7% | 19.3% | 34.3% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
- 104 Nigeria 21.6% compare
- 105 Guinea-Bissau 21.2% compare
- 106 Sierra Leone 21.2% compare
- 108 Gambia 18.9% compare
- 109 Maldives 18.8% compare
- 110 Central African Republic 17.8% compare
More gender data for Cameroon
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 13,337 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.53 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 465,137 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 475,018 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 453,098 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 461,925 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 443,236 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 452,058 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 436,011 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 444,018 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women using contraceptives in Cameroon?
- Share of women using contraceptives in Cameroon was 19.3% 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 Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 34.3% in 2014.
- What is the lowest share of women using contraceptives recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 1978.
- How does Cameroon rank for share of women using contraceptives?
- Cameroon ranks 107th out of 116 countries with data for 2018.
- Is share of women using contraceptives rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Cameroon 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.