Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in United States of America
United States of America: Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age was 7.2% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in United States of America, 1988–2019
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 2019, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in United States of America stood at 7.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 24.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in United States of America peaked at 9.0% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 4.0%, in 1988.
That places United States of America 53rd out of 58 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in United States of America, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 4.0% | — |
| 1990 | 6.0% | +50.0% |
| 2002 | 6.3% | +5.0% |
| 2008 | 5.8% | -7.9% |
| 2010 | 8.0% | +37.9% |
| 2015 | 9.0% | +12.5% |
| 2019 | 7.2% | -20.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.0% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 6.0% | 6.0% | 6.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 6.0% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 8.1% | 7.2% | 9.0% | 3 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More gender data for United States of America
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 57,835 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.4626 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 297,814 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 297,814 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.6312 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 1.79 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 1.88 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 1.80 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 1.89 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 1.83 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in United States of America?
- Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in United States of America was 7.2% in 2019, 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 United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 9.0% in 2015.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.0% in 1988.
- How does United States of America rank for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age?
- United States of America ranks 53rd out of 58 countries with data for 2019.
- Is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States of America 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.