In 2024, the global use of contraceptive methods among women reached ** percent, yet varied greatly from one region of the world to another. Only ** percent of women aged 15 to 49 years used a contraceptive method in West and Central Africa. Contraceptive use was consistently higher in married women. In 2024, the global use of contraceptive methods among married women, aged 15 to 49 years old, reached ** percent.

In the period 2023/24, 58 percent of women in England aged 16 and 17 years who were in contact with sexual health services were using user dependent contraceptives, compared to 42 percent who were using long acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs). It is visible that younger age groups were more likely to use user-dependent contraceptives compared to older age groups. Contact with sexual health services In total, over 1.9 million women in England contacted NHS sexual and reproductive health services for contraceptive reasons in the period 2020/21. The age group with the highest number of women contacting the service was those aged 25-34 years. Types of contraception used Across the whole United Kingdom in 2018, the birth control pill was the most common method of contraception for women aged between 15 and 49 years, with 28 percent using it as their main method. Across Europe, the UK had the seventh highest share of women in the country using the pill as their main method of contraception, with Czechia having the highest share at 54 percent of women in the country using the pill.

Contraceptive use among women in the United States has seen a substantial increase in recent years, with 82 percent of sexually active women reporting use of at least one contraceptive method in 2024, up from 48 percent in 2017. This trend reflects a growing emphasis on reproductive health and family planning, as more women take control of their fertility. The rise in contraceptive use coincides with efforts to improve access to preventive care services, though challenges in healthcare utilization persist. Contraceptive methods and challenges Among the various contraceptive options available, male condoms and oral contraceptives remain the most popular choices for American women. In 2024, 25 percent of reproductive-aged women reported using male condoms in the past year, while 22 percent used oral contraceptives. However, the use of contraception is not without challenges. Many women experience side effects due to contraceptive use, with mood changes and weight gain being the most commonly reported issues in 2022. Nearly eight out of ten women reported experiencing 2 or more side effects that were either unexpected or more severe than anticipated, underscoring the importance of comprehensive education and support for contraceptive users. Preventive care and contraception While contraceptive use has increased, there are still gaps in overall preventive care for women. As of 2022, 22 percent of women in the U.S. reported forgoing preventive health services, such as yearly check-ups or routine tests, in the past year. This highlights the need for continued efforts to improve access to and utilization of comprehensive women's health services, including both contraception and other preventive measures. The relationship between contraceptive use and overall health awareness is complex, with room for improvement in both areas.

From 2017 to 2019, women of varying education levels did not differ significantly in their use of the male condom. However, use of birth control pills increased with increasing levels of education. Inversely, female sterilization decreased with increasing levels of education. This statistic shows the percentage of women in the United States currently using select contraceptive methods from 2017 to 2019, by level of education.

Contraception methods in the United States reveal a diverse landscape of choices, with male condoms and oral contraceptives leading the way. A 2024 survey found that 25 percent of reproductive-aged women used male condoms in the past year, while 22 percent opted for oral contraceptives. This data highlights the continued importance of accessible and varied contraceptive options for American women. Increasing contraception use and pregnancy prevention The use of contraception among sexually active women in the U.S. has seen a significant increase in recent years. In 2022, approximately 65 percent of women who had sex in the past year reported using at least one method of contraception, up from less than half in 2017. Although there are various reasons to use contraception, avoiding pregnancy is the most common reason, with 65 percent of women in 2024 reporting using contraception solely to prevent pregnancy. The importance of pregnancy prevention is further emphasized by the fact that about 74 percent of reproductive-aged women in 2022 considered it very or somewhat important to avoid pregnancy in the next month. Challenges and side effects Despite the widespread use of contraception, women face various challenges in maintaining consistent use and managing side effects. For example, approximately one-third of women of reproductive age who used hormonal contraception reported missing a dose due to supply problems. Additionally, side effects remain a significant concern for many users. In 2022, almost half of women using contraception experienced mood changes and weight gain as the most common side effects. Nearly eight out of ten women reported experiencing two or more side effects that were either unexpected or more severe than anticipated, underscoring the need for improved education and support for contraceptive users.

As of 2022, Czechia had the highest share in Europe of women aged 15 to 49 years using the birth control pill, with over ** percent using this form of contraception. Additionally, Netherlands had a high level of contraceptive pill use at ** percent. In the Balkans there is low usage of the birth control pill with less than *** percent of women using the pill in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.

In Europe, just under ** percent of women of reproductive age (15 to 49 years) used a modern contraceptive method in 2023. The prevalence of modern contraceptive use among women in Southern and Eastern European countries was lower than in Northern and Western countries, and thus varied greatly from one country to another. Finland had the highest prevalence in Europe, with ** percent of women using a modern contraceptive method, whereas the prevalence in Albania was just over **** percent.

In 2022, more than eight in every ten women of reproductive age in the U.S. used some contraceptive method in the past year. White women capable of becoming pregnant reported the highest contraceptive use, with 87 percent. This statistic illustrates the percentage of reproductive-aged women in the U.S. that reported using contraception in the past year as of 2022, by race and ethnicity.

The use of contraceptive methods increased in all regions between 1990 and 2019. The largest increase was seen in Latin America and the Caribbean where the use of contraception increased from 39.8 percent to 58 percent from 1990 to 2019. This statistic shows the prevalence of any method of contraception among women of reproductive age in 1990, 2019, and a forecast for 2030 by region.

This statistic shows the percentage of women aged 15 to 44 years who used select contraceptive methods in the U.S. from 2011 to 2013. During this time, 25.9 percent of women surveyed used birth control pills and 15.3 percent used male condoms.

A survey of college students in the United States from the fall of 2024 found that the most common method of birth control among college students is the male condom, followed by birth control pills, and the withdrawal method. At that time, about ** percent of college students in the U.S. reported they used a male condom to prevent pregnancy the last time they had vaginal intercourse, while ** percent used birth control pills. Contraception among women in the United States Similarly to college students, male condoms and oral contraceptives are the most common forms of contraception among all adult women in the United States. As of 2024, around ** percent of women of reproductive age in the United States had used male condoms in the past year, while ** percent had used oral contraceptives. These forms of contraception are more common among women aged 18 to 25 years, while the intrauterine device (IUD) is more common among women aged 26 to 35 years than any other age group. The number one reason U.S. women use contraception is to avoid pregnancy. Condom use among high school students In 2023, around ** percent of high school students in the United States reported using a condom during their last sexual intercourse. The share of U.S. high school students who reported using a condom during their last sexual intercourse has deceased over the last decade, with around ** percent reporting condom use in 2013. In 2023, Hispanic high school students were the most likely to have used a condom the last time they had sex, while Asian students were least likely to have used a condom. However, every race/ethnicity saw decreases in condom use from 2013 to 2023.

A 2021 survey of American high school students found that of those who were sexually active and engaging in sex with opposite-sex partners, 20.9 percent were using the birth control pill to prevent pregnancy. Prevalence was highest among female students.

From 1990 to 2019, the use of contraceptive methods increased in all countries regardless of income. The largest increase was seen in low-income countries where the use of contraception increased from 12.5 percent to 28 percent. This statistic shows the prevalence of any method of contraception among women of reproductive age in 1990, 2019, and a forecast for 2030, by country income level.

From 2017 to 2019, among women 20 years and over, female sterilization increased with age, while the use of birth control pills and male condom generally decreased with age. This statistic shows the percentage of women in the United States who were currently using select methods of contraception from 2017 to 2019, by age group.

In 2021, the rate of modern contraceptive prevalence among currently married women aged between 15 and 49 years in Vietnam was just above 68 percent. The rate of modern contraceptives among married women had increased constantly since 2017.

In 2019, roughly one out of five European women of reproductive age used the contraceptive pill, while **** percent of them used the male condom. These two contraceptive methods were the most common in Europe, where ** percent of women overall use contraception. From one region to another, the use of contraceptive methods differed greatly. The pill was the most commonly used in Northern and Western Europe, whereas in Southern and Eastern Europe it was the male condom. The IUD was the third most common type of contraceptive used by European women during that year. Finally, the withdrawal method, which is not, in reality, a contraceptive method, was still used by some women despite its lack of effectiveness.

In 1990, nearly ** percent of women under reproductive age in Latin America and the Caribbean had used any contraceptive method. In 2019, the utilization of contraceptives among this group of females increased up to ** percent. By 2030, it was forecast that the share of women under reproductive age in the region using contraceptives could reach over ** percent.

According to a survey on sex in Denmark, birth control pills was most commonly used between ** and 24-year-old's in 2018. In detail, ** percent of the youngest respondents used this contraceptive method that year. The usage of birth control pills declined for the older age groups. For instance, ** percent of the respondents between 35 and 44 years had used birth control pills within the past year.

In 2022, contraception usage among the female population in Japan reached **** percent. The percentage of women who were married or in a union using contraception decreased from over ** percent recorded in the 1990s.

This statistic shows a ranking of the methods of contraception used among French women from 2010 to 2018. It shows that the use of contraceptive oral pills decreased from 40.8 percent of the respondents to 32 percent in 2018, whereas more French women chose to use a IUD. IUD as a contraceptive method declined from 18.7 percent in 2010 to 25 percent of French women in 2018. The survey displays also how traditional/alternative methods increased from 2010 to 2013 before falling back to 4 percent of use among French women in 2018.