Share of women using contraceptives in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Share of women using contraceptives was 28.1% in 2018. ▲ Rising
Share of women using contraceptives in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1984–2018
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
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 28.1% for share of women using contraceptives in 2018.
That represents a change of up 36.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women using contraceptives in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 31.4% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 7.7%, in 1991.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 97th of 116 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Share of women using contraceptives in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 15.4% | — |
| 1991 | 7.7% | -50.0% |
| 2001 | 31.4% | +307.7% |
| 2007 | 20.6% | -34.4% |
| 2010 | 17.7% | -14.0% |
| 2014 | 20.4% | +15.1% |
| 2018 | 28.1% | +37.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 15.4% | 15.4% | 15.4% | 1 |
| 1990s | 7.7% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 26.0% | 20.6% | 31.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 22.1% | 17.7% | 28.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
- 94 Oman 29.7% compare
- 95 Tajikistan 29.3% compare
- 96 Burundi 28.5% compare
- 98 Senegal 26.5% compare
- 99 Mozambique 26.4% compare
- 100 Timor-Leste 26.0% compare
More gender data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 59,241 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 2.48 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 2.15 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 2.18 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 2.08 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 2.11 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 2.02 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 2.04 million (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 1.95 million (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 1.97 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women using contraceptives in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Share of women using contraceptives in Democratic Republic of Congo was 28.1% 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 31.4% in 2001.
- What is the lowest share of women using contraceptives recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.7% in 1991.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for share of women using contraceptives?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 97th out of 116 countries with data for 2018.
- Is share of women using contraceptives rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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.