Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Belgium
Belgium: Share of women using modern contraceptive methods was 65.4% in 2018. ▲ Rising
Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Belgium, 1966–2018
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
Belgium recorded 65.4% for share of women using modern contraceptive methods in 2018.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Belgium peaked at 74.3% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 10.8%, in 1966.
That places Belgium 20th out of 113 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.
Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 10.8% | — |
| 1976 | 47.9% | +343.1% |
| 1983 | 63.2% | +32.0% |
| 1992 | 74.3% | +17.6% |
| 2010 | 72.8% | -2.0% |
| 2013 | 65.9% | -9.5% |
| 2018 | 65.4% | -0.8% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 65.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 60.4%, 1.1× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 65.4% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 52.4%, 1.2× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 10.8% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 1 |
| 1970s | 47.9% | 47.9% | 47.9% | 1 |
| 1980s | 63.2% | 63.2% | 63.2% | 1 |
| 1990s | 74.3% | 74.3% | 74.3% | 1 |
| 2010s | 68.0% | 65.4% | 72.8% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More gender data for Belgium
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 1,701 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -1.52 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 10,123 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 10,123 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.3629 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 49,723 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 52,153 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 50,100 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 52,519 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 53,460 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Belgium?
- Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Belgium was 65.4% in 2018, 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 modern contraceptive methods recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 74.3% in 1992.
- What is the lowest share of women using modern contraceptive methods recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.8% in 1966.
- How does Belgium rank for share of women using modern contraceptive methods?
- Belgium ranks 20th out of 113 countries with data for 2018.
- Is share of women using modern contraceptive methods rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium 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 modern contraceptive methods. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of women using modern contraceptive methods, among those aged 15–49 and married or in union.