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.

According to the data, the contraceptive prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa was only 27.9 percent. This means that only 27.9 percent of women or their sexual partner were currently using at least one method of contraception. This statistic depicts contraceptive prevalence worldwide as of 2019, by region.

Mexico MX: Contraceptive Prevalence: Any Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data was reported at 66.900 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 72.300 % for 2014. Mexico MX: Contraceptive Prevalence: Any Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data is updated yearly, averaging 67.650 % from Dec 1977 (Median) to 2015, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 74.500 % in 2003 and a record low of 30.300 % in 1977. Mexico MX: Contraceptive Prevalence: Any Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Mexico – Table MX.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Contraceptive prevalence rate is the percentage of women who are practicing, or whose sexual partners are practicing, any form of contraception. It is usually measured for women ages 15-49 who are married or in union.; ; UNICEF's State of the World's Children and Childinfo, United Nations Population Division's World Contraceptive Use, household surveys including Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys.; Weighted average; Contraceptive prevalence amongst women of reproductive age is an indicator of women's empowerment and is related to maternal health, HIV/AIDS, and gender equality.

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.

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.

Nigeria NG: Contraceptive Prevalence: Modern Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data was reported at 10.800 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 16.000 % for 2016. Nigeria NG: Contraceptive Prevalence: Modern Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data is updated yearly, averaging 9.750 % from Dec 1982 (Median) to 2017, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.000 % in 2016 and a record low of 0.900 % in 1982. Nigeria NG: Contraceptive Prevalence: Modern Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.World Bank: Health Statistics. Contraceptive prevalence rate is the percentage of women who are practicing, or whose sexual partners are practicing, at least one modern method of contraception. It is usually measured for women ages 15-49 who are married or in union. Modern methods of contraception include female and male sterilization, oral hormonal pills, the intra-uterine device (IUD), the male condom, injectables, the implant (including Norplant), vaginal barrier methods, the female condom and emergency contraception.; ; Household surveys, including Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. Largely compiled by United Nations Population Division.; Weighted Average;

Central African Republic CF: Contraceptive Prevalence: Any Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data was reported at 17.800 % in 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 15.180 % for 2010. Central African Republic CF: Contraceptive Prevalence: Any Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data is updated yearly, averaging 17.800 % from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2019, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 27.943 % in 2000 and a record low of 14.800 % in 1995. Central African Republic CF: Contraceptive Prevalence: Any Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Central African Republic – Table CF.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics. Contraceptive prevalence, any method is the percentage of married women ages 15-49 who are practicing, or whose sexual partners are practicing, any method of contraception (modern or traditional). Modern methods of contraception include female and male sterilization, oral hormonal pills, the intra-uterine device (IUD), the male condom, injectables, the implant (including Norplant), vaginal barrier methods, the female condom and emergency contraception. Traditional methods of contraception include rhythm (e.g., fertility awareness based methods, periodic abstinence), withdrawal and other traditional methods.;Household surveys, including Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. Largely compiled by United Nations Population Division (World Contraceptive Use 2024).;Weighted average;

I’d like to request data on the number of prescriptions for the contraceptive pill in the UK over the past 5 years 2019 – 2023. I would like this data broken down year by year. Response Under Section 21 of the Act, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you. There is Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) monthly administrative data published in the Open Data Portal that includes contraceptive prescriptions items dispensed in the community in England on a monthly basis and submitted to the NHSBSA for reimbursement. These files can be filtered by product name to locate the information you require: Prescription cost analysis (PCA) contains information on all prescription items dispensed in England and submitted to the NHSBSA for reimbursement: https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/prescription-cost-analysis-pca-annual-statistics The English prescribing dataset (EPD) contains information on prescriptions issued in England that have been dispensed in England, Wales, Scotland, Guernsey, Alderney, Jersey, and the Isle of Man. https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/english-prescribing-data-epd On the Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) Monthly Administrative Data page scroll down to Data and Resources and find the month required. Click the explore button. Then click Preview (to download only contraceptive data) rather than the entire (all BNF Sections) dataset. Use the Add Filter button and choose BNF_SECTIONs Contraceptive Devices and Contraceptives. The data includes items, total quantity, and NIC. There is a Data Dictionary describing each column of data (once you select a time period at the bottom of the screen). Go to the Data Explorer options and select Download filtered records. You will need this for each month required. Please note, that to obtain the figures for contraceptive prescriptions, you will need to add a filter for the BNF_SECTIONs Contraceptive Devices and Contraceptives. The data includes items, total quantity and NIC. There is a Data Dictionary describing each column of data once you select a time period (at the bottom of the screen). To view a video on how to use the Open Data Portal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNC1EQJAPNY

Guyana GY: Contraceptive Prevalence: Any Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data was reported at 33.900 % in 2014. This records a decrease from the previous number of 42.500 % for 2009. Guyana GY: Contraceptive Prevalence: Any Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data is updated yearly, averaging 34.600 % from Dec 1975 (Median) to 2014, with 7 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 42.500 % in 2009 and a record low of 29.500 % in 1975. Guyana GY: Contraceptive Prevalence: Any Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Guyana – Table GY.World Bank: Health Statistics. Contraceptive prevalence rate is the percentage of women who are practicing, or whose sexual partners are practicing, any form of contraception. It is usually measured for women ages 15-49 who are married or in union.; ; UNICEF's State of the World's Children and Childinfo, United Nations Population Division's World Contraceptive Use, household surveys including Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys.; Weighted average; Contraceptive prevalence amongst women of reproductive age is an indicator of women's empowerment and is related to maternal health, HIV/AIDS, and gender equality.

Access to modern contraception relies on multiple factors such as affordability, availability, and information. In 2024, Western and Northern Europe had mostly good access to contraception, whereas the access was more limited in Eastern countries. With scores exceeding 90 percent, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom had the highest scores of access to contraception during that year. Poland, on the other hand, had the lowest score in Europe for access to contraception.

United Kingdom UK: Contraceptive Prevalence: Any Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data was reported at 84.000 % in 2009. This records an increase from the previous number of 82.000 % for 2008. United Kingdom UK: Contraceptive Prevalence: Any Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data is updated yearly, averaging 82.000 % from Dec 1976 (Median) to 2009, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 84.000 % in 2009 and a record low of 69.000 % in 1989. United Kingdom UK: Contraceptive Prevalence: Any Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Contraceptive prevalence rate is the percentage of women who are practicing, or whose sexual partners are practicing, any form of contraception. It is usually measured for women ages 15-49 who are married or in union.; ; UNICEF's State of the World's Children and Childinfo, United Nations Population Division's World Contraceptive Use, household surveys including Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys.; Weighted average; Contraceptive prevalence amongst women of reproductive age is an indicator of women's empowerment and is related to maternal health, HIV/AIDS, and gender equality.

Switzerland Contraceptive Prevalence: Any Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data was reported at 72.900 % in 2012. This records a decrease from the previous number of 82.000 % for 1995. Switzerland Contraceptive Prevalence: Any Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data is updated yearly, averaging 72.900 % from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2012, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 82.000 % in 1995 and a record low of 71.200 % in 1980. Switzerland Contraceptive Prevalence: Any Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Switzerland – Table CH.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Contraceptive prevalence rate is the percentage of women who are practicing, or whose sexual partners are practicing, any form of contraception. It is usually measured for women ages 15-49 who are married or in union.; ; UNICEF's State of the World's Children and Childinfo, United Nations Population Division's World Contraceptive Use, household surveys including Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys.; Weighted average; Contraceptive prevalence amongst women of reproductive age is an indicator of women's empowerment and is related to maternal health, HIV/AIDS, and gender equality.

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.

These data come from surveillance activities conducted by the Guttmacher Institute over several decades, collecting or compiling data for the period 1994 through 2016. These activities track the numbers of women who have a potential demand for contraceptive care (because they are of reproductive age, sexually active and not seeking to become pregnant), the subset of these women who likely need public support for care (because of their family income level or their age), the numbers of women who receive contraceptive services from publicly funded clinics, and the numbers of clinics providing publicly supported contraceptive services. These efforts have been conducted periodically, typically about every five years, but at times the intervals between efforts were shorter or longer than five years. The most recent data were collected or compiled for 2015 (women served) and 2016 (women with potential demand for services). This release includes two separate datasets. Dataset 1, "Need for contraceptive services," provides county-level aggregate data for 6 different years (1995, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2016). For each county, the data represent estimates of the number of women who have a potential demand for contraceptive services and the number who likely need public support for care, both in total, and according to key socio-demographic characteristics. Dataset 2, "Clinics providing contraceptive services and women served," provides county-level aggregate data for six different years (1994, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2010, and 2015). For each county, the data represent the number of publicly funded clinics according to clinic type and funding status and the number of female contraceptive patients served at those clinics.

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.

Statistics illustrates consumption, production, prices, and trade of Condoms (Sheath Contraceptives) in Bolivia from 2007 to 2024.

Hong Kong HK: Contraceptive Prevalence: Modern Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data was reported at 71.900 % in 2012. This records a decrease from the previous number of 75.400 % for 2007. Hong Kong HK: Contraceptive Prevalence: Modern Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data is updated yearly, averaging 75.000 % from Dec 1972 (Median) to 2012, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 81.300 % in 2002 and a record low of 43.300 % in 1972. Hong Kong HK: Contraceptive Prevalence: Modern Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Hong Kong SAR – Table HK.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Contraceptive prevalence rate is the percentage of women who are practicing, or whose sexual partners are practicing, at least one modern method of contraception. It is usually measured for women ages 15-49 who are married or in union. Modern methods of contraception include female and male sterilization, oral hormonal pills, the intra-uterine device (IUD), the male condom, injectables, the implant (including Norplant), vaginal barrier methods, the female condom and emergency contraception.; ; Household surveys, including Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. Largely compiled by United Nations Population Division.; Weighted average;

Laos LA: Contraceptive Prevalence: Modern Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data was reported at 42.700 % in 2012. This records an increase from the previous number of 35.000 % for 2005. Laos LA: Contraceptive Prevalence: Modern Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data is updated yearly, averaging 31.950 % from Dec 1993 (Median) to 2012, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 42.700 % in 2012 and a record low of 15.100 % in 1993. Laos LA: Contraceptive Prevalence: Modern Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Laos – Table LA.World Bank: Health Statistics. Contraceptive prevalence rate is the percentage of women who are practicing, or whose sexual partners are practicing, at least one modern method of contraception. It is usually measured for women ages 15-49 who are married or in union. Modern methods of contraception include female and male sterilization, oral hormonal pills, the intra-uterine device (IUD), the male condom, injectables, the implant (including Norplant), vaginal barrier methods, the female condom and emergency contraception.; ; Household surveys, including Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. Largely compiled by United Nations Population Division.; Weighted Average;

Gabon GA: Contraceptive Prevalence: Modern Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data was reported at 19.400 % in 2012. This records an increase from the previous number of 13.400 % for 2000. Gabon GA: Contraceptive Prevalence: Modern Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data is updated yearly, averaging 16.400 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2012, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 19.400 % in 2012 and a record low of 13.400 % in 2000. Gabon GA: Contraceptive Prevalence: Modern Methods: % of Women Aged 15-49 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Gabon – Table GA.World Bank: Health Statistics. Contraceptive prevalence rate is the percentage of women who are practicing, or whose sexual partners are practicing, at least one modern method of contraception. It is usually measured for women ages 15-49 who are married or in union. Modern methods of contraception include female and male sterilization, oral hormonal pills, the intra-uterine device (IUD), the male condom, injectables, the implant (including Norplant), vaginal barrier methods, the female condom and emergency contraception.; ; Household surveys, including Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. Largely compiled by United Nations Population Division.; Weighted average;

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.