Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Cameroon
Cameroon: Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age was 23.0% in 2018. ▬ Flat
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Cameroon, 1991–2018
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 married women ages 15-49.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Cameroon is 23.0%, measured in 2018.
That represents a change of down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Cameroon peaked at 23.5% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 18.0%, in 2014.
That places Cameroon 14th out of 58 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 22.3% | — |
| 1998 | 20.7% | -7.2% |
| 2004 | 20.5% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 23.5% | +14.6% |
| 2014 | 18.0% | -23.5% |
| 2018 | 23.0% | +28.0% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 23.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.2%, 1.1× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 23.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.0%, 1.0× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.5% | 20.7% | 22.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 20.5% | 20.5% | 20.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 21.5% | 18.0% | 23.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More gender data for Cameroon
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 13,337 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.53 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 20,440 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 20,440 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 3.01 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 465,137 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 475,018 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 453,098 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 461,925 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 443,236 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Cameroon?
- Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Cameroon was 23.0% 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 unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 23.5% in 2011.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.0% in 2014.
- How does Cameroon rank for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age?
- Cameroon ranks 14th out of 58 countries with data for 2018.
- Is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Cameroon 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Fertile, married women of reproductive age (ages 15-49) who do not want to become pregnant and are not using contraception.