Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Senegal
Senegal: Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age was 19.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Senegal, 1986–2023
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
The most recent figure for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Senegal is 19.1%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 13 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 Senegal peaked at 37.0% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 19.1%, in 2023.
Senegal ranks 25th of 58 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Senegal, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 37.0% | — |
| 1993 | 28.8% | -22.2% |
| 1997 | 35.0% | +21.5% |
| 2005 | 32.0% | -8.6% |
| 2011 | 30.1% | -5.9% |
| 2013 | 29.2% | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 25.6% | -12.3% |
| 2015 | 25.2% | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 23.6% | -6.3% |
| 2017 | 21.9% | -7.2% |
| 2018 | 20.6% | -5.9% |
| 2019 | 21.7% | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 19.1% | -12.0% |
Senegal compared with similar countries
- Senegal's 19.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.2%, 94% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Senegal's 19.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.0%, 87% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 37.0% | 37.0% | 37.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 31.9% | 28.8% | 35.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 32.0% | 32.0% | 32.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 24.7% | 20.6% | 30.1% | 8 |
| 2020s | 19.1% | 19.1% | 19.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Senegal
- 22 Tanzania, United Republic of 21.0% compare
- 23 Nepal 20.8% compare
- 24 Zambia 19.7% compare
- 26 El Salvador 17.7% compare
- 27 Pakistan 17.3% compare
- 28 Kazakhstan 15.5% compare
More gender data for Senegal
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 7,600 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.35 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 13,563 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 13,563 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 2.69 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 263,002 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 269,605 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 257,895 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 263,988 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 250,294 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Senegal?
- Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Senegal was 19.1% 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 Senegal?
- The highest recorded value was 37.0% in 1986.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in Senegal?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.1% in 2023.
- How does Senegal rank for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age?
- Senegal ranks 25th out of 58 countries with data for 2023.
- Is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age rising or falling in Senegal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Senegal 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.