Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste: Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age was 25.3% in 2016. ▲ Rising
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Timor-Leste, 1991–2016
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
The most recent figure for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Timor-Leste is 25.3%, measured in 2016.
The figure is down 19.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Timor-Leste peaked at 31.5% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 13.3%, in 1994.
Timor-Leste ranks 8th of 58 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Timor-Leste, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 16.6% | — |
| 1994 | 13.3% | -19.9% |
| 1997 | 17.4% | +30.8% |
| 2010 | 31.5% | +81.0% |
| 2016 | 25.3% | -19.7% |
Timor-Leste compared with similar countries
- Timor-Leste's 25.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.2%, 1.2× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Timor-Leste's 25.3% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 11.1%, 2.3× the median. (8 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.8% | 13.3% | 17.4% | 3 |
| 2010s | 28.4% | 25.3% | 31.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Timor-Leste
More gender data for Timor-Leste
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 462.75 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.4702 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 1,057 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 1,057 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 2.31 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 14,331 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 15,248 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 14,172 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 15,056 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 14,127 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Timor-Leste?
- Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Timor-Leste was 25.3% 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 Timor-Leste?
- The highest recorded value was 31.5% in 2010.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in Timor-Leste?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.3% in 1994.
- How does Timor-Leste rank for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age?
- Timor-Leste ranks 8th out of 58 countries with data for 2016.
- Is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age rising or falling in Timor-Leste?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Timor-Leste 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.