Recent trends in contraceptive use and method mix in Africa and implications for the future

Ann E. Biddlecom, United Nations Population Division
Vladimira Kantorova, United Nations Population Division
Stephen M. Kisambira, United Nations Population Division
Petra Nahmias, United Nations Population Division
Kyaw-Kyaw Lay, United Nations Population Division
Kirill F. Andreev, United Nations

This paper describes trends in Africa in contraceptive prevalence, unmet need for family planning and the mix of contraceptive methods used among married or in-union women over the past 20 years and examines projections to 2030. Estimates and projections are based on a new family planning data set of 1,059 household-based survey observations for married or in-union women of reproductive age between 1950 and 2014 from 195 countries or areas. Results show that contraceptive prevalence in Africa increased rapidly among married or in-union women from 21 per cent in 1994 to 33 per cent in 2015. Modern methods accounted for the majority of contraceptive methods used, especially injectables and pills. Yet most countries in Africa are projected to have less than 60 percent of demand met by modern contraceptives by 2030 as larger cohorts of women will continue to enter the reproductive ages.