Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Ecuador
Ecuador: Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age was 7.1% in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Ecuador, 1987–2018
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
In 2018, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Ecuador stood at 7.1%. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Ecuador peaked at 24.6% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 7.1%, in 2018.
That places Ecuador 54th out of 58 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Ecuador, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 24.2% | — |
| 1989 | 24.6% | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 15.2% | -38.2% |
| 1999 | 10.0% | -34.2% |
| 2004 | 7.4% | -26.0% |
| 2012 | 8.8% | +18.9% |
| 2018 | 7.1% | -18.9% |
Ecuador compared with similar countries
- Ecuador's 7.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.2%, 64% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Ecuador's 7.1% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12.1%, 59% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 24.4% | 24.2% | 24.6% | 2 |
| 1990s | 12.6% | 10.0% | 15.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 7.4% | 7.4% | 7.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 8.0% | 7.1% | 8.8% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ecuador
More gender data for Ecuador
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 4,113 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.8663 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 14,957 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 14,957 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.3 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 129,930 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 135,561 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 130,156 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 135,822 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 131,369 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Ecuador?
- Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Ecuador was 7.1% 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 Ecuador?
- The highest recorded value was 24.6% in 1989.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in Ecuador?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.1% in 2018.
- How does Ecuador rank for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age?
- Ecuador ranks 54th out of 58 countries with data for 2018.
- Is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age rising or falling in Ecuador?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ecuador 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.