Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Malawi
Malawi: Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age was 15.4% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Malawi, 1992–2020
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
Malawi recorded 15.4% for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 41.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Malawi peaked at 36.5% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 15.4%, in 2020.
Malawi ranks 29th of 58 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 36.5% | — |
| 2000 | 29.9% | -18.1% |
| 2004 | 30.3% | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 26.2% | -13.5% |
| 2014 | 19.4% | -25.8% |
| 2016 | 18.7% | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 15.4% | -17.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 36.5% | 36.5% | 36.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 30.1% | 29.9% | 30.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 21.4% | 18.7% | 26.2% | 3 |
| 2020s | 15.4% | 15.4% | 15.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 26 El Salvador 17.7% compare
- 27 Pakistan 17.3% compare
- 28 Kazakhstan 15.5% compare
- 30 Dominican Republic 15.3% compare
- 31 Madagascar 14.6% compare
- 32 Guatemala 13.9% compare
- 32 Kenya 13.9% compare
More gender data for Malawi
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 9,494 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.4 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 15,667 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 15,667 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 3.13 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 330,369 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 332,767 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 322,764 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 324,764 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 316,113 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Malawi?
- Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Malawi was 15.4% in 2020, 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 Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 36.5% in 1992.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.4% in 2020.
- How does Malawi rank for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age?
- Malawi ranks 29th out of 58 countries with data for 2020.
- Is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi 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.