Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Uganda
Uganda: Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age was 21.8% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Uganda, 1995–2022
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
In 2022, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Uganda stood at 21.8%.
The figure is up 2.6% on the previous year and down 36.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Uganda peaked at 39.9% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 21.2%, in 2021.
That places Uganda 18th out of 58 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Uganda, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 30.0% | — |
| 2001 | 35.0% | +16.7% |
| 2006 | 38.0% | +8.6% |
| 2011 | 34.3% | -9.7% |
| 2014 | 39.9% | +16.3% |
| 2015 | 32.8% | -17.8% |
| 2016 | 28.4% | -13.4% |
| 2017 | 31.9% | +12.4% |
| 2018 | 27.2% | -14.9% |
| 2020 | 23.5% | -13.5% |
| 2021 | 21.2% | -9.6% |
| 2022 | 21.8% | +2.6% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 21.8% is above the median for low income countries, which is 21.2%, 1.0× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 21.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.0%, 99% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30.0% | 30.0% | 30.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 36.5% | 35.0% | 38.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 32.4% | 27.2% | 39.9% | 6 |
| 2020s | 22.2% | 21.2% | 23.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More gender data for Uganda
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 23,854 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.35 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 34,459 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 34,459 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 3.21 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 832,544 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 852,069 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 821,106 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 839,557 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 810,014 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Uganda?
- Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Uganda was 21.8% in 2022, 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 Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 39.9% in 2014.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.2% in 2021.
- How does Uganda rank for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age?
- Uganda ranks 18th out of 58 countries with data for 2022.
- Is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Uganda 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.