Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mauritania
Mauritania: Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age was 31.1% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mauritania, 2001–2021
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
Mauritania recorded 31.1% for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in 2021.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mauritania peaked at 33.6% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 24.6%, in 2007.
That places Mauritania 3rd out of 58 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 32.1% | — |
| 2007 | 24.6% | -23.4% |
| 2011 | 31.1% | +26.4% |
| 2015 | 33.6% | +8.0% |
| 2021 | 31.1% | -7.4% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 31.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.2%, 1.5× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 31.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.0%, 1.4× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 28.4% | 24.6% | 32.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 32.4% | 31.1% | 33.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 31.1% | 31.1% | 31.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Mauritania
More gender data for Mauritania
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 2,466 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.77 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 3,596 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 3,596 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 3.17 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 85,317 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 87,574 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 83,378 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 85,511 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 81,699 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mauritania?
- Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mauritania was 31.1% 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 Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 33.6% in 2015.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.6% in 2007.
- How does Mauritania rank for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age?
- Mauritania ranks 3rd out of 58 countries with data for 2021.
- Is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Mauritania 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.