Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Benin
Benin: Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age was 29.9% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Benin, 1996–2022
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 married women ages 15-49.
Analysis
In 2022, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Benin stood at 29.9%.
That represents a change of down 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Benin peaked at 33.1% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 27.3%, in 2006.
That places Benin 5th out of 58 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Benin, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 27.7% | — |
| 2001 | 27.9% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 27.3% | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 32.6% | +19.4% |
| 2014 | 33.1% | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 32.3% | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 29.9% | -7.4% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 29.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.2%, 1.5× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Benin's 29.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.0%, 1.4× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 27.7% | 27.7% | 27.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 27.6% | 27.3% | 27.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 32.7% | 32.3% | 33.1% | 3 |
| 2020s | 29.9% | 29.9% | 29.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Benin
- 2 Togo 34.0% compare
- 3 Mauritania 31.1% compare
- 4 Chad 30.2% compare
- 6 Burundi 29.7% compare
- 7 Mozambique 26.6% compare
- 8 Timor-Leste 25.3% compare
More gender data for Benin
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 6,548 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.19 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 10,071 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 10,071 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 2.95 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 229,200 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 237,041 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 223,456 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 230,273 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 219,192 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Benin?
- Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Benin was 29.9% in 2022, 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 unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 33.1% in 2014.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.3% in 2006.
- How does Benin rank for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age?
- Benin ranks 5th out of 58 countries with data for 2022.
- Is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Benin 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 Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Fertile, married women of reproductive age (ages 15-49) who do not want to become pregnant and are not using contraception.