Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Zambia
Zambia: Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age was 19.7% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Zambia, 1992–2018
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 2018, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Zambia stood at 19.7%. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 25.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Zambia peaked at 30.0% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 19.7%, in 2018.
That places Zambia 24th out of 58 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of married women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 30.0% | — |
| 1996 | 25.2% | -16.0% |
| 2002 | 27.5% | +9.1% |
| 2007 | 26.6% | -3.3% |
| 2014 | 21.1% | -20.7% |
| 2018 | 19.7% | -6.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 19.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.2%, 97% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 19.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.0%, 90% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 27.6% | 25.2% | 30.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 27.1% | 26.6% | 27.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 20.4% | 19.7% | 21.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 21 Burkina Faso 21.0% compare
- 22 Tanzania, United Republic of 21.0% compare
- 23 Nepal 20.8% compare
- 25 Senegal 19.1% compare
- 26 El Salvador 17.7% compare
- 27 Pakistan 17.3% compare
More gender data for Zambia
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 9,719 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.61 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 15,306 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 15,306 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 3.24 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 340,219 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 341,639 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 331,557 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 332,331 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 324,712 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Zambia?
- Unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age in Zambia was 19.7% in 2018, 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 30.0% in 1992.
- What is the lowest unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.7% in 2018.
- How does Zambia rank for unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age?
- Zambia ranks 24th out of 58 countries with data for 2018.
- Is unmet need for contraception among married women of reproductive age rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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.