Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Share of women using modern contraceptive methods was 17.6% in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1984–2018
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
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 17.6% for share of women using modern contraceptive methods in 2018. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 203.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 17.6% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 1991.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 101st out of 113 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 4.4% | — |
| 1991 | 2.3% | -47.7% |
| 2001 | 7.7% | +235.1% |
| 2007 | 5.8% | -24.7% |
| 2010 | 6.6% | +13.8% |
| 2014 | 7.8% | +18.2% |
| 2018 | 17.6% | +125.4% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 17.6% is below the median for low income countries, which is 22.9%, 77% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 17.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25.3%, 70% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 1 |
| 1990s | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 6.8% | 5.8% | 7.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 10.7% | 6.6% | 17.6% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More gender data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 59,241 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 2.48 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 72,291 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 72,291 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 3.47 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 2.15 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 2.18 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 2.08 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 2.11 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 2.02 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Democratic Republic of Congo was 17.6% 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 17.6% in 2018.
- What is the lowest share of women using modern contraceptive methods recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 1991.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for share of women using modern contraceptive methods?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 101st out of 113 countries with data for 2018.
- Is share of women using modern contraceptive methods rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 203.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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.