Contraceptive use — all countries

Contraceptive use — South Africa

Contraceptive use in South Africa in 2016 — 54.6%. Ranked 14 in the world out of 33. Since 1989, the indicator has risen by 4.9 pp.

2016 54.6% −5.3 pp vs 2003
World rank 14of 33
Period maximum 59.9%2003
Period minimum 49.7%1989

Trend over time

1989–2016 · % of women aged 15–49

Contraceptive use — South Africa, 1989–20164550556019891992199519982001200420072010201320161989: 49.7%1998: 56.3%2003: 59.9%2016: 54.6%
Change over the period: +4.9 pp Annual average: 0.18 pp
Contraceptive use — South Africa, by year South Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2016 54.6
2003 59.9
1998 56.3
1989 49.7

About the indicator

The share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union and use any method of contraception. The indicator explains fertility better than income or education taken separately: in most countries the fall in fertility followed the rise of this share rather than the other way around. All methods are counted, including traditional ones, so the value is higher than the share using modern means.

Important: Only women in a marriage or a union — unmarried women are not in the denominator, and in countries where marriage comes late this noticeably changes the picture. The data come from household surveys, and the years are intermittent.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.