Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Madagascar
Madagascar: Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age was 14.6% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Madagascar, 1992–2021
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 Madagascar stood at 14.6%. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.5% on the previous year and down 23.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Madagascar peaked at 32.3% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 14.6%, in 2021.
That places Madagascar 31st out of 58 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Madagascar, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 32.3% | — |
| 1997 | 27.7% | -14.2% |
| 2004 | 24.5% | -11.6% |
| 2009 | 19.0% | -22.4% |
| 2017 | 16.4% | -13.7% |
| 2018 | 15.3% | -6.8% |
| 2021 | 14.6% | -4.5% |
Madagascar compared with similar countries
- Madagascar's 14.6% is below the median for low income countries, which is 21.2%, 69% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Madagascar's 14.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.0%, 67% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30.0% | 27.7% | 32.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 21.8% | 19.0% | 24.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 15.8% | 15.3% | 16.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 14.6% | 14.6% | 14.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Madagascar
More gender data for Madagascar
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 13,788 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.52 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 22,905 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 22,905 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 2.66 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 483,299 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 498,396 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 473,008 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 486,670 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 464,238 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Madagascar?
- Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Madagascar was 14.6% 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 Madagascar?
- The highest recorded value was 32.3% in 1992.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in Madagascar?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.6% in 2021.
- How does Madagascar rank for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age?
- Madagascar ranks 31st out of 58 countries with data for 2021.
- Is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age rising or falling in Madagascar?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Madagascar 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.