Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age was 21.2% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Ethiopia, 2000–2021
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
In 2021, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Ethiopia stood at 21.2%.
The figure is up 10.5% on the previous year and down 19.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Ethiopia peaked at 36.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 19.2%, in 2020.
That places Ethiopia 19th out of 58 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 36.6% | — |
| 2005 | 36.1% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 26.3% | -27.1% |
| 2014 | 26.4% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 24.4% | -7.5% |
| 2016 | 22.3% | -8.7% |
| 2017 | 22.9% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 20.6% | -10.1% |
| 2019 | 19.9% | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 19.2% | -3.6% |
| 2021 | 21.2% | +10.5% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 21.2% is above the median for low income countries, which is 21.2%, 1.0× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 21.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.0%, 97% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 36.4% | 36.1% | 36.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 23.3% | 19.9% | 26.4% | 7 |
| 2020s | 20.2% | 19.2% | 21.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 16 Côte d'Ivoire 22.4% compare
- 17 Guinea 22.1% compare
- 18 Uganda 21.8% compare
- 20 Niger 21.1% compare
- 21 Burkina Faso 21.0% compare
- 22 Tanzania, United Republic of 21.0% compare
More gender data for Ethiopia
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 57,452 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.69 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 95,403 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 95,403 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 2.76 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 1.98 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 2.07 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 1.95 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 2.04 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 1.92 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Ethiopia?
- Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Ethiopia was 21.2% 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 36.6% in 2000.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.2% in 2020.
- How does Ethiopia rank for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age?
- Ethiopia ranks 19th out of 58 countries with data for 2021.
- Is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.