Share of women using contraceptives in North Korea
North Korea: Share of women using contraceptives was 70.2% in 2017. ▲ Rising
Share of women using contraceptives in North Korea, 1992–2017
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
North Korea recorded 70.2% for share of women using contraceptives in 2017.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.2% on the previous year and up 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women using contraceptives in North Korea peaked at 78.2% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 61.9%, in 1992.
North Korea ranks 20th of 116 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Share of women using contraceptives in North Korea, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 61.9% | — |
| 1997 | 67.3% | +8.7% |
| 2002 | 68.6% | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 67.6% | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 69.1% | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 70.6% | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 78.2% | +10.8% |
| 2017 | 70.2% | -10.2% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 70.2% is above the median for low income countries, which is 28.1%, 2.5× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 70.2% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 60.1%, 1.2× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 64.6% | 61.9% | 67.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 68.4% | 67.6% | 69.1% | 3 |
| 2010s | 73.0% | 70.2% | 78.2% | 3 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More gender data for North Korea
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 4,948 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.7158 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 21,837 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 21,837 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.2686 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 162,142 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 171,689 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 163,466 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 172,928 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 164,613 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women using contraceptives in North Korea?
- Share of women using contraceptives in North Korea was 70.2% in 2017, 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 North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 78.2% in 2014.
- What is the lowest share of women using contraceptives recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.9% in 1992.
- How does North Korea rank for share of women using contraceptives?
- North Korea ranks 20th out of 116 countries with data for 2017.
- Is share of women using contraceptives rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North Korea 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.