Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age was 5.8% in 2012. ▼ Falling
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Nicaragua, 1993–2012
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
The most recent figure for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Nicaragua is 5.8%, measured in 2012. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of down 60.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Nicaragua peaked at 23.9% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 5.8%, in 2012.
Nicaragua ranks 58th of 58 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 23.9% | — |
| 1998 | 17.9% | -25.1% |
| 2001 | 14.6% | -18.4% |
| 2007 | 7.5% | -48.5% |
| 2012 | 5.8% | -22.9% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's 5.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.2%, 29% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's 5.8% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12.1%, 48% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 20.9% | 17.9% | 23.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 11.1% | 7.5% | 14.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 5.8% | 5.8% | 5.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
More gender data for Nicaragua
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 1,949 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.4088 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 5,493 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 5,493 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.7 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 64,268 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 66,389 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 64,149 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 66,225 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 64,050 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Nicaragua?
- Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Nicaragua was 5.8% in 2012, 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 Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 23.9% in 1993.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.8% in 2012.
- How does Nicaragua rank for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age?
- Nicaragua ranks 58th out of 58 countries with data for 2012.
- Is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is down 60.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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.