Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in El Salvador
El Salvador: Share of women using modern contraceptive methods was 52.1% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in El Salvador, 1975–2021
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
El Salvador recorded 52.1% for share of women using modern contraceptive methods in 2021.
That represents a change of down 21.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women using modern contraceptive methods in El Salvador peaked at 67.7% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 20.0%, in 1975.
El Salvador ranks 46th of 113 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 10 years of available data.
Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 20.0% | — |
| 1978 | 32.1% | +60.5% |
| 1985 | 44.5% | +38.6% |
| 1988 | 43.5% | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 48.4% | +11.3% |
| 1998 | 54.1% | +11.8% |
| 2003 | 61.9% | +14.4% |
| 2008 | 66.2% | +6.9% |
| 2014 | 67.7% | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 52.1% | -23.1% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 52.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 50.1%, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 52.1% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 59.0%, 88% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 26.1% | 20.0% | 32.1% | 2 |
| 1980s | 44.0% | 43.5% | 44.5% | 2 |
| 1990s | 51.2% | 48.4% | 54.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 64.0% | 61.9% | 66.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 67.7% | 67.7% | 67.7% | 1 |
| 2020s | 52.1% | 52.1% | 52.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
More gender data for El Salvador
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 1,446 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -1.44 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 5,040 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 5,040 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.8586 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 47,387 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 49,616 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 47,477 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 49,704 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 47,581 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women using modern contraceptive methods in El Salvador?
- Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in El Salvador was 52.1% in 2021, 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 El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 67.7% in 2014.
- What is the lowest share of women using modern contraceptive methods recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.0% in 1975.
- How does El Salvador rank for share of women using modern contraceptive methods?
- El Salvador ranks 46th out of 113 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of women using modern contraceptive methods rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this El Salvador 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.