Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in China
China: Share of women using modern contraceptive methods was 80.5% in 2017. ▲ Rising
Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in China, 1970–2017
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 modern contraceptive methods in China is 80.5%, measured in 2017.
The figure is down 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women using modern contraceptive methods in China peaked at 86.2% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 13.5%, in 1970.
China ranks 2nd of 113 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in China, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 13.5% | — |
| 1971 | 17.3% | +28.1% |
| 1972 | 22.5% | +30.3% |
| 1973 | 28.4% | +26.4% |
| 1974 | 34.4% | +21.1% |
| 1975 | 40.6% | +18.0% |
| 1976 | 45.2% | +11.3% |
| 1977 | 48.4% | +7.1% |
| 1978 | 50.2% | +3.8% |
| 1979 | 53.7% | +6.8% |
| 1980 | 54.6% | +1.7% |
| 1981 | 54.7% | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 58.2% | +6.4% |
| 1983 | 64.2% | +10.4% |
| 1984 | 66.3% | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 66.2% | -0.3% |
| 1986 | 65.7% | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 69.3% | +5.5% |
| 1988 | 73.2% | +5.6% |
| 1997 | 83.3% | +13.7% |
| 2001 | 86.2% | +3.5% |
| 2006 | 84.0% | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 80.5% | -4.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 80.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 50.1%, 1.6× the median. (31 countries reporting)
- China's 80.5% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 52.2%, 1.5× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 35.4% | 13.5% | 53.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 63.6% | 54.6% | 73.2% | 9 |
| 1990s | 83.3% | 83.3% | 83.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 85.1% | 84.0% | 86.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 80.5% | 80.5% | 80.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
More gender data for China
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 169,741 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -5.36 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 1.23 million (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 1.23 million (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.4481 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 4.15 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 4.56 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 4.18 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 4.62 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 4.32 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women using modern contraceptive methods in China?
- Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in China was 80.5% in 2017, 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 86.2% in 2001.
- What is the lowest share of women using modern contraceptive methods recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.5% in 1970.
- How does China rank for share of women using modern contraceptive methods?
- China ranks 2nd out of 113 countries with data for 2017.
- Is share of women using modern contraceptive methods rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China 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.