Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in El Salvador
El Salvador: Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age was 17.7% in 2021. ▬ Flat
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in El Salvador, 1988–2021
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 married women ages 15-49.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in El Salvador is 17.7%, measured in 2021.
The figure is down 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in El Salvador peaked at 18.4% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 8.9%, in 2003.
El Salvador ranks 26th of 58 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 16.2% | — |
| 1993 | 15.8% | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 14.2% | -10.1% |
| 2003 | 8.9% | -37.3% |
| 2008 | 18.4% | +106.7% |
| 2014 | 11.1% | -39.7% |
| 2021 | 17.7% | +59.6% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 17.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.2%, 1.6× the median. (18 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 17.7% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12.1%, 1.5× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 16.2% | 16.2% | 16.2% | 1 |
| 1990s | 15.0% | 14.2% | 15.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 13.6% | 8.9% | 18.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 11.1% | 11.1% | 11.1% | 1 |
| 2020s | 17.7% | 17.7% | 17.7% | 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 unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in El Salvador?
- Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in El Salvador was 17.7% 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 unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 18.4% in 2008.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.9% in 2003.
- How does El Salvador rank for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age?
- El Salvador ranks 26th out of 58 countries with data for 2021.
- Is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 7 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.