Contraceptive use — all countries

Contraceptive use — United Kingdom

Contraceptive use in the United Kingdom in 2012 — 76.1%. Ranked 5 in the world out of 36. Since 1986, the indicator has fallen by 4.9 pp.

2012 76.1% −7.9 pp vs 2009
World rank 5of 36
Period maximum 87.7%2001
Period minimum 76%1999

Trend over time

1986–2012 · % of women aged 15–49

Contraceptive use — United Kingdom, 1986–20127580859019861989199219951998200120042007201020121986: 81%1993: 82%1998: 83%1999: 76%2000: 80%2001: 87.7%2003: 84%2004: 84%2005: 82%2006: 82%2009: 84%2012: 76.1%
Change over the period: −4.9 pp Annual average: -0.19 pp
Contraceptive use — United Kingdom, by year United Kingdom All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2012 76.1
2009 84
2006 82 +0 pp
2005 82 −2 pp
2004 84 +0 pp
2003 84
2001 87.7 +7.7 pp
2000 80 +4 pp
1999 76 −7 pp
1998 83
1993 82
1986 81

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.