Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in India
India: Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age was 9.4% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in India, 1993–2021
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 India stood at 9.4%. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of down 54.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in India peaked at 21.1% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 9.4%, in 2021.
That places India 50th out of 58 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in India, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 20.3% | — |
| 1999 | 16.1% | -20.7% |
| 2004 | 21.1% | +31.1% |
| 2006 | 13.9% | -34.1% |
| 2008 | 20.5% | +47.5% |
| 2016 | 12.9% | -37.1% |
| 2021 | 9.4% | -27.1% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 9.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.2%, 46% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.2% | 16.1% | 20.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 18.5% | 13.9% | 21.1% | 3 |
| 2010s | 12.9% | 12.9% | 12.9% | 1 |
| 2020s | 9.4% | 9.4% | 9.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
More gender data for India
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 341,454 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.5667 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 1.18 million (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 1.18 million (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.17 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 10.96 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 11.71 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 10.92 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 11.70 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 10.89 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in India?
- Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in India was 9.4% 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 21.1% in 2004.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.4% in 2021.
- How does India rank for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age?
- India ranks 50th out of 58 countries with data for 2021.
- Is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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
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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.