Share of women using contraceptives in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Share of women using contraceptives was 84.2% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Share of women using contraceptives in Republic of Korea, 1965–2021
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 Republic of Korea stood at 84.2%.
The figure is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 9.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women using contraceptives in Republic of Korea peaked at 84.5% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 16.0%, in 1965.
That places Republic of Korea 3rd out of 116 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Share of women using contraceptives in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 16.0% | — |
| 1966 | 20.0% | +25.0% |
| 1971 | 24.2% | +21.2% |
| 1974 | 34.9% | +44.0% |
| 1976 | 44.2% | +26.6% |
| 1979 | 54.5% | +23.3% |
| 1982 | 57.7% | +5.9% |
| 1985 | 70.4% | +22.0% |
| 1988 | 77.1% | +9.5% |
| 1991 | 79.4% | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 77.4% | -2.5% |
| 1997 | 80.5% | +4.0% |
| 2000 | 79.3% | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 84.5% | +6.6% |
| 2005 | 80.2% | -5.1% |
| 2006 | 79.6% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 80.0% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 77.1% | -3.6% |
| 2015 | 79.6% | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 82.3% | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 84.2% | +2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 18.0% | 16.0% | 20.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 39.5% | 24.2% | 54.5% | 4 |
| 1980s | 68.4% | 57.7% | 77.1% | 3 |
| 1990s | 79.1% | 77.4% | 80.5% | 3 |
| 2000s | 80.7% | 79.3% | 84.5% | 5 |
| 2010s | 79.7% | 77.1% | 82.3% | 3 |
| 2020s | 84.2% | 84.2% | 84.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
More gender data for Republic of Korea
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 4,318 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -3.79 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 119,025 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 125,732 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 116,471 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 122,813 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 119,098 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 125,514 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 124,678 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 131,322 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women using contraceptives in Republic of Korea?
- Share of women using contraceptives in Republic of Korea was 84.2% 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 Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 84.5% in 2003.
- What is the lowest share of women using contraceptives recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.0% in 1965.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for share of women using contraceptives?
- Republic of Korea ranks 3rd out of 116 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of women using contraceptives rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Republic of 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.