Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Japan
Japan: Share of women using modern contraceptive methods was 52.8% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Japan, 1961–2021
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
Japan recorded 52.8% for share of women using modern contraceptive methods in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 35.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Japan peaked at 62.7% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 33.1%, in 2015.
Japan ranks 45th of 113 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Japan, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 39.2% | — |
| 1963 | 43.8% | +11.7% |
| 1965 | 54.1% | +23.5% |
| 1967 | 49.1% | -9.2% |
| 1969 | 52.1% | +6.1% |
| 1971 | 52.6% | +1.0% |
| 1973 | 59.3% | +12.7% |
| 1975 | 60.5% | +2.0% |
| 1979 | 62.2% | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 57.3% | -7.9% |
| 1986 | 62.7% | +9.4% |
| 1988 | 51.7% | -17.5% |
| 1990 | 52.5% | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 57.0% | +8.6% |
| 1994 | 52.8% | -7.4% |
| 1996 | 50.6% | -4.2% |
| 1998 | 48.0% | -5.1% |
| 2000 | 48.3% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 44.4% | -8.1% |
| 2005 | 44.4% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 39.0% | -12.1% |
| 2015 | 33.1% | -15.2% |
| 2021 | 52.8% | +59.6% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 52.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 60.4%, 87% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Japan's 52.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 52.2%, 1.0× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 47.7% | 39.2% | 54.1% | 5 |
| 1970s | 58.6% | 52.6% | 62.2% | 4 |
| 1980s | 57.2% | 51.7% | 62.7% | 3 |
| 1990s | 52.2% | 48.0% | 57.0% | 5 |
| 2000s | 45.7% | 44.4% | 48.3% | 3 |
| 2010s | 36.1% | 33.1% | 39.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 52.8% | 52.8% | 52.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More gender data for Japan
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 12,429 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -1.96 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 107,155 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 107,155 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate -0.4423 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 367,041 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 384,885 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 368,886 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 386,553 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 378,555 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Japan?
- Share of women using modern contraceptive methods in Japan was 52.8% 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 62.7% in 1986.
- What is the lowest share of women using modern contraceptive methods recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.1% in 2015.
- How does Japan rank for share of women using modern contraceptive methods?
- Japan ranks 45th out of 113 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of women using modern contraceptive methods rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan 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.