Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mozambique
Mozambique: Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age was 26.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mozambique, 1997–2023
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 2023, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mozambique stood at 26.6%. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 11.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mozambique peaked at 26.6% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 21.4%, in 2003.
That places Mozambique 7th out of 58 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mozambique, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 24.9% | — |
| 2003 | 21.4% | -14.1% |
| 2011 | 23.9% | +11.7% |
| 2015 | 23.1% | -3.3% |
| 2023 | 26.6% | +15.2% |
Mozambique compared with similar countries
- Mozambique's 26.6% is above the median for low income countries, which is 21.2%, 1.3× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Mozambique's 26.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.0%, 1.2× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 24.9% | 24.9% | 24.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 21.4% | 21.4% | 21.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 23.5% | 23.1% | 23.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 26.6% | 26.6% | 26.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Mozambique
More gender data for Mozambique
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 17,379 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.93 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 23,468 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 23,468 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 3.27 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 617,774 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 625,212 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 598,653 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 605,099 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 585,024 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mozambique?
- Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Mozambique was 26.6% in 2023, 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 Mozambique?
- The highest recorded value was 26.6% in 2023.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in Mozambique?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.4% in 2003.
- How does Mozambique rank for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age?
- Mozambique ranks 7th out of 58 countries with data for 2023.
- Is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age rising or falling in Mozambique?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Mozambique 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.