Share of women using contraceptives in Japan
Japan: Share of women using contraceptives was 58.3% in 2021. ▬ Flat
Share of women using contraceptives in Japan, 1961–2021
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 2021, share of women using contraceptives in Japan stood at 58.3%.
The figure is up 6.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women using contraceptives in Japan peaked at 64.5% in 1987 and was at its lowest, 39.8%, in 2015.
That places Japan 53rd out of 116 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Share of women using contraceptives in Japan, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 42.0% | — |
| 1963 | 44.6% | +6.2% |
| 1965 | 55.5% | +24.4% |
| 1967 | 53.0% | -4.5% |
| 1969 | 52.1% | -1.7% |
| 1971 | 52.6% | +1.0% |
| 1973 | 59.3% | +12.7% |
| 1975 | 60.5% | +2.0% |
| 1977 | 60.4% | -0.2% |
| 1979 | 62.2% | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 57.3% | -7.9% |
| 1986 | 62.8% | +9.6% |
| 1987 | 64.5% | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 56.3% | -12.7% |
| 1990 | 57.9% | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 64.0% | +10.5% |
| 1994 | 58.6% | -8.4% |
| 1996 | 56.6% | -3.4% |
| 1997 | 60.4% | +6.7% |
| 1998 | 54.1% | -10.4% |
| 2000 | 55.9% | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 52.0% | -7.0% |
| 2005 | 54.3% | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 54.7% | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 39.8% | -27.3% |
| 2021 | 58.3% | +46.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 49.4% | 42.0% | 55.5% | 5 |
| 1970s | 59.0% | 52.6% | 62.2% | 5 |
| 1980s | 60.2% | 56.3% | 64.5% | 4 |
| 1990s | 58.6% | 54.1% | 64.0% | 6 |
| 2000s | 54.1% | 52.0% | 55.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 47.3% | 39.8% | 54.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 58.3% | 58.3% | 58.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 50 Jordan 60.1% compare
- 51 Uzbekistan 58.8% compare
- 52 Egypt 58.5% compare
- 54 Philippines 58.3% compare
- 55 Eswatini 57.7% compare
- 56 Palestine, State of 57.3% compare
More gender data for Japan
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 12,429 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -1.96 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 367,041 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 384,885 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 368,886 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 386,553 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 378,555 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 396,805 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 393,277 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 412,389 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women using contraceptives in Japan?
- Share of women using contraceptives in Japan was 58.3% in 2021, 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 64.5% in 1987.
- What is the lowest share of women using contraceptives recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.8% in 2015.
- How does Japan rank for share of women using contraceptives?
- Japan ranks 53rd out of 116 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of women using contraceptives rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Japan 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.