Share of women using contraceptives in Mexico
Mexico: Share of women using contraceptives was 71.8% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Share of women using contraceptives in Mexico, 1977–2023
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 2023, share of women using contraceptives in Mexico stood at 71.8%.
The figure is down 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women using contraceptives in Mexico peaked at 74.5% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 30.3%, in 1977.
Mexico ranks 17th of 116 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of women using contraceptives in Mexico, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 30.3% | — |
| 1978 | 40.0% | +32.0% |
| 1979 | 37.8% | -5.5% |
| 1982 | 47.7% | +26.2% |
| 1987 | 52.7% | +10.5% |
| 1992 | 63.1% | +19.7% |
| 1995 | 66.5% | +5.4% |
| 1997 | 68.4% | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 74.5% | +8.9% |
| 2006 | 70.9% | -4.8% |
| 2009 | 72.5% | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 72.3% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 66.9% | -7.5% |
| 2018 | 73.1% | +9.3% |
| 2023 | 71.8% | -1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 36.0% | 30.3% | 40.0% | 3 |
| 1980s | 50.2% | 47.7% | 52.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 66.0% | 63.1% | 68.4% | 3 |
| 2000s | 72.6% | 70.9% | 74.5% | 3 |
| 2010s | 70.8% | 66.9% | 73.1% | 3 |
| 2020s | 71.8% | 71.8% | 71.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Mexico
- 14 Netherlands 73.0% compare
- 15 Thailand 72.8% compare
- 15 Vietnam 72.8% compare
- 18 Costa Rica 70.9% compare
- 19 Morocco 70.8% compare
- 20 North Korea 70.2% compare
More gender data for Mexico
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 30,197 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.9402 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 978,858 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 1.01 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 984,557 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 1.02 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 992,716 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 1.03 million (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 1.00 million (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 1.04 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women using contraceptives in Mexico?
- Share of women using contraceptives in Mexico was 71.8% in 2023, 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 Mexico?
- The highest recorded value was 74.5% in 2003.
- What is the lowest share of women using contraceptives recorded in Mexico?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.3% in 1977.
- How does Mexico rank for share of women using contraceptives?
- Mexico ranks 17th out of 116 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of women using contraceptives rising or falling in Mexico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Mexico 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.