Contraceptive use — all countries

Contraceptive use — United States

Contraceptive use in the United States in 2019 — 73.9%. Ranked 2 in the world out of 28. Since 1965, the indicator has risen by 7.4 pp.

2019 73.9% −2 pp vs 2017
World rank 2of 28
Period maximum 79%1975
Period minimum 66.5%1965

Trend over time

1965–2019 · % of women aged 15–49

Contraceptive use — United States, 1965–20196570758019651971197719831989199520012007201320191965: 66.5%1970: 67.6%1973: 69.6%1975: 79%1976: 67.7%1982: 69.7%1988: 74.3%1990: 70.7%1995: 76.4%2002: 72.8%2008: 77.1%2010: 76.4%2015: 72.7%2017: 75.9%2019: 73.9%
Change over the period: +7.4 pp Annual average: 0.14 pp
Contraceptive use — United States, by year United States All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2019 73.9
2017 75.9
2015 72.7
2010 76.4
2008 77.1
2002 72.8
1995 76.4
1990 70.7
1988 74.3
1982 69.7
1976 67.7 −11.3 pp
1975 79
1973 69.6
1970 67.6
1965 66.5

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.