Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mexico
Mexico: Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age was 10.8% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mexico, 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
Mexico recorded 10.8% for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in 2018.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 16.4% on the previous year and up 10.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mexico peaked at 24.1% in 1987 and was at its lowest, 9.8%, in 2009.
Mexico ranks 44th of 58 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mexico, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 24.1% | — |
| 1995 | 16.1% | -33.2% |
| 1997 | 12.1% | -24.8% |
| 2003 | 9.9% | -18.2% |
| 2006 | 12.0% | +21.2% |
| 2009 | 9.8% | -18.3% |
| 2014 | 11.4% | +16.3% |
| 2015 | 12.9% | +13.4% |
| 2018 | 10.8% | -16.4% |
Mexico compared with similar countries
- Mexico's 10.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.2%, 96% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Mexico's 10.8% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12.1%, 89% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 24.1% | 24.1% | 24.1% | 1 |
| 1990s | 14.1% | 12.1% | 16.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 10.6% | 9.8% | 12.0% | 3 |
| 2010s | 11.7% | 10.8% | 12.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Mexico
More gender data for Mexico
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 30,197 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.9402 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 106,708 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 106,708 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.16 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 978,858 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 1.01 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 984,557 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 1.02 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 992,716 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mexico?
- Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mexico was 10.8% 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 Mexico?
- The highest recorded value was 24.1% in 1987.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in Mexico?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.8% in 2009.
- How does Mexico rank for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age?
- Mexico ranks 44th out of 58 countries with data for 2018.
- Is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age rising or falling in Mexico?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Mexico 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.