Share of women using contraceptives in Iran
Iran: Share of women using contraceptives was 77.4% in 2010. ▲ Rising
Share of women using contraceptives in Iran, 1977–2010
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
Iran recorded 77.4% for share of women using contraceptives in 2010. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.
The figure is up 4.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women using contraceptives in Iran peaked at 77.4% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 36.0%, in 1977.
Iran ranks 9th of 116 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Share of women using contraceptives in Iran, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 36.0% | — |
| 1989 | 48.9% | +35.8% |
| 1992 | 64.6% | +32.1% |
| 1993 | 67.8% | +5.0% |
| 1994 | 70.0% | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 72.8% | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 73.7% | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 72.9% | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 73.8% | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 73.3% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 77.4% | +5.5% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 77.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 60.6%, 1.3× the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Iran's 77.4% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 53.8%, 1.4× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 36.0% | 36.0% | 36.0% | 1 |
| 1980s | 48.9% | 48.9% | 48.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 70.3% | 64.6% | 73.7% | 6 |
| 2000s | 73.6% | 73.3% | 73.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 77.4% | 77.4% | 77.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More gender data for Iran
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 18,410 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -2.73 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 77,077 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 77,077 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.34 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 552,656 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 580,401 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 565,065 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 593,686 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 576,359 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women using contraceptives in Iran?
- Share of women using contraceptives in Iran was 77.4% in 2010, 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 77.4% in 2010.
- What is the lowest share of women using contraceptives recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.0% in 1977.
- How does Iran rank for share of women using contraceptives?
- Iran ranks 9th out of 116 countries with data for 2010.
- Is share of women using contraceptives rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iran 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.