Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Rwanda
Rwanda: Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age was 13.6% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Rwanda, 1992–2020
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
Rwanda recorded 13.6% for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 34.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Rwanda peaked at 38.5% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 13.6%, in 2020.
Rwanda ranks 34th of 58 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 38.2% | — |
| 2000 | 36.4% | -4.7% |
| 2005 | 38.5% | +5.8% |
| 2008 | 34.4% | -10.6% |
| 2010 | 20.8% | -39.5% |
| 2015 | 18.9% | -9.1% |
| 2020 | 13.6% | -28.0% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 13.6% is below the median for low income countries, which is 21.2%, 64% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 13.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.0%, 62% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 38.2% | 38.2% | 38.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 36.4% | 34.4% | 38.5% | 3 |
| 2010s | 19.9% | 18.9% | 20.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 13.6% | 13.6% | 13.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More gender data for Rwanda
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 5,716 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.9861 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 10,439 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 10,439 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 2.5 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 194,446 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 198,438 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 191,100 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 194,971 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 188,797 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Rwanda?
- Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Rwanda was 13.6% in 2020, 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 38.5% in 2005.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.6% in 2020.
- How does Rwanda rank for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age?
- Rwanda ranks 34th out of 58 countries with data for 2020.
- Is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.