Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Guatemala
Guatemala: Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age was 13.9% in 2015. ▼ Falling
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Guatemala, 1987–2015
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
Guatemala recorded 13.9% for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in 2015. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
That represents a change of down 49.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Guatemala peaked at 29.4% in 1987 and was at its lowest, 13.9%, in 2015.
That places Guatemala 32nd out of 58 countries with data for 2015, putting it in the middle of the range.
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Guatemala, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 29.4% | — |
| 1995 | 28.1% | -4.4% |
| 1999 | 26.8% | -4.6% |
| 2002 | 27.6% | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 20.8% | -24.6% |
| 2015 | 13.9% | -33.2% |
Guatemala compared with similar countries
- Guatemala's 13.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.2%, 1.2× the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Guatemala's 13.9% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12.1%, 1.1× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 29.4% | 29.4% | 29.4% | 1 |
| 1990s | 27.5% | 26.8% | 28.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 24.2% | 20.8% | 27.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 13.9% | 13.9% | 13.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Guatemala
More gender data for Guatemala
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 5,681 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.5138 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 14,386 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 14,386 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 2.14 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 183,639 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 190,265 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 182,353 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 188,776 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 181,168 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Guatemala?
- Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Guatemala was 13.9% in 2015, 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 Guatemala?
- The highest recorded value was 29.4% in 1987.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in Guatemala?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.9% in 2015.
- How does Guatemala rank for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age?
- Guatemala ranks 32nd out of 58 countries with data for 2015.
- Is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age rising or falling in Guatemala?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Guatemala 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.