Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Cameroon
Cameroon: Share of women using modern contraceptive methods was 15.4% in 2018. ▲ Rising
Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Cameroon, 1991–2018
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
In 2018, share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Cameroon stood at 15.4%.
That represents a change of up 10.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Cameroon peaked at 19.9% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 4.3%, in 1991.
Cameroon ranks 105th of 113 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.3% | — |
| 1998 | 7.1% | +65.1% |
| 2004 | 12.5% | +76.1% |
| 2006 | 14.0% | +11.9% |
| 2011 | 14.4% | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 19.9% | +38.4% |
| 2018 | 15.4% | -22.7% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 15.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 45.1%, 34% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 15.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25.3%, 61% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.7% | 4.3% | 7.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 13.2% | 12.5% | 14.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 16.6% | 14.4% | 19.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More gender data for Cameroon
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 13,337 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.53 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 20,440 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 20,440 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 3.01 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 465,137 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 475,018 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 453,098 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 461,925 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 443,236 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Cameroon?
- Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Cameroon was 15.4% 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 Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 19.9% in 2014.
- What is the lowest share of women using modern contraceptive methods recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.3% in 1991.
- How does Cameroon rank for share of women using modern contraceptive methods?
- Cameroon ranks 105th out of 113 countries with data for 2018.
- Is share of women using modern contraceptive methods rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Cameroon 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.