Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mali
Mali: Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age was 23.9% in 2018. ▲ Rising
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mali, 1987–2018
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 2018, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mali stood at 23.9%.
That represents a change of down 22.1% on the previous year and down 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mali peaked at 30.7% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 22.9%, in 1987.
That places Mali 10th out of 58 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mali, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 22.9% | — |
| 1996 | 27.5% | +20.1% |
| 2001 | 29.6% | +7.6% |
| 2006 | 27.6% | -6.8% |
| 2013 | 26.0% | -5.8% |
| 2015 | 30.7% | +18.0% |
| 2018 | 23.9% | -22.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 22.9% | 22.9% | 22.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 27.5% | 27.5% | 27.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 28.6% | 27.6% | 29.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 26.9% | 23.9% | 30.7% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Mali
- 7 Mozambique 26.6% compare
- 8 Timor-Leste 25.3% compare
- 9 Sierra Leone 24.8% compare
- 11 Nigeria 23.9% compare
- 12 Ghana 23.4% compare
- 13 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 23.2% compare
More gender data for Mali
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 12,771 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 2 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 16,232 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 16,232 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 3.42 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 459,934 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 471,024 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 442,703 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 451,382 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 428,668 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mali?
- Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mali was 23.9% in 2018, 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 Mali?
- The highest recorded value was 30.7% in 2015.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in Mali?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.9% in 1987.
- How does Mali rank for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age?
- Mali ranks 10th out of 58 countries with data for 2018.
- Is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age rising or falling in Mali?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Mali 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.