Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Paraguay
Paraguay: Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age was 12.1% in 2016. ◆ Volatile
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Paraguay, 1987–2016
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
Paraguay recorded 12.1% for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in 2016.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 83.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Paraguay peaked at 32.9% in 1987 and was at its lowest, 4.7%, in 2008.
Paraguay ranks 40th of 58 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Paraguay, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 32.9% | — |
| 1990 | 17.4% | -47.1% |
| 1996 | 19.2% | +10.3% |
| 1998 | 17.3% | -9.9% |
| 2004 | 6.6% | -61.8% |
| 2008 | 4.7% | -28.8% |
| 2016 | 12.1% | +158.1% |
Paraguay compared with similar countries
- Paraguay's 12.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.2%, 1.1× the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Paraguay's 12.1% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12.1%, 1.0× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 32.9% | 32.9% | 32.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 18.0% | 17.3% | 19.2% | 3 |
| 2000s | 5.7% | 4.7% | 6.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 12.1% | 12.1% | 12.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Paraguay
More gender data for Paraguay
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 1,993 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.2942 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 5,415 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 5,415 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.53 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 65,495 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 68,548 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 65,498 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 68,560 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 65,610 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Paraguay?
- Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Paraguay was 12.1% in 2016, 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 Paraguay?
- The highest recorded value was 32.9% in 1987.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in Paraguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.7% in 2008.
- How does Paraguay rank for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age?
- Paraguay ranks 40th out of 58 countries with data for 2016.
- Is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age rising or falling in Paraguay?
- Over the last ten years it is up 83.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Paraguay 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.