Share of women using contraceptives in United States of America
United States of America: Share of women using contraceptives was 73.9% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Share of women using contraceptives in United States of America, 1965–2019
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
The most recent figure for share of women using contraceptives in United States of America is 73.9%, measured in 2019.
That represents a change of down 2.7% on the previous year and down 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women using contraceptives in United States of America peaked at 79.0% in 1975 and was at its lowest, 66.5%, in 1965.
United States of America ranks 13th 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 United States of America, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 66.5% | — |
| 1970 | 67.6% | +1.7% |
| 1973 | 69.6% | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 79.0% | +13.5% |
| 1976 | 67.7% | -14.3% |
| 1982 | 69.7% | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 74.3% | +6.6% |
| 1990 | 70.7% | -4.8% |
| 1995 | 76.4% | +8.1% |
| 2002 | 72.8% | -4.7% |
| 2008 | 77.1% | +5.9% |
| 2010 | 76.4% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 72.7% | -4.9% |
| 2017 | 75.9% | +4.5% |
| 2019 | 73.9% | -2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 66.5% | 66.5% | 66.5% | 1 |
| 1970s | 71.0% | 67.6% | 79.0% | 4 |
| 1980s | 72.0% | 69.7% | 74.3% | 2 |
| 1990s | 73.6% | 70.7% | 76.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 75.0% | 72.8% | 77.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 74.7% | 72.7% | 76.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More gender data for United States of America
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 57,835 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.4626 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 297,814 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 297,814 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.6312 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 1.79 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 1.88 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 1.80 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 1.89 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 1.83 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women using contraceptives in United States of America?
- Share of women using contraceptives in United States of America was 73.9% in 2019, 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 United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 79.0% in 1975.
- What is the lowest share of women using contraceptives recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 66.5% in 1965.
- How does United States of America rank for share of women using contraceptives?
- United States of America ranks 13th out of 116 countries with data for 2019.
- Is share of women using contraceptives rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States of America 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.