Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Costa Rica

Costa Rica: Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods was 70.0% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
70.0%
Change on year
down 6.5%
World rank
12th
of 113 countries
All-time high
74.9%
in 2015
All-time low
53.5%
in 1976
Years of data
8
1976–2018

Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Costa Rica, 1976–2018

0204060801976199720181976: 53.5 % of women ages 15-491981: 55.9 % of women ages 15-491986: 58 % of women ages 15-491993: 65 % of women ages 15-491999: 71 % of women ages 15-492011: 74.7 % of women ages 15-492015: 74.9 % of women ages 15-492018: 70 % of women ages 15-49

Source: Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of women ages 15-49.

Analysis

In 2018, contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Costa Rica stood at 70.0%.

The figure is down 6.5% on the previous year and down 6.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Costa Rica peaked at 74.9% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 53.5%, in 1976.

Costa Rica ranks 12th of 113 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 53.5% 53.5% 53.5% 1
1980s 57.0% 55.9% 58.0% 2
1990s 68.0% 65.0% 71.0% 2
2010s 73.2% 70.0% 74.9% 3

Countries ranked near Costa Rica

  1. 9 Ecuador 72.4% compare
  2. 10 United Kingdom 71.1% compare
  3. 11 Thailand 70.7% compare
  4. 13 Mexico 69.1% compare
  5. 14 North Korea 68.8% compare
  6. 15 South Korea 67.6% compare

See the full ranking of 113 places →

More reference data data for Costa Rica

All data for Costa Rica →

Frequently asked questions

What is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Costa Rica?
Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Costa Rica was 70.0% in 2018, according to Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods recorded in Costa Rica?
The highest recorded value was 74.9% in 2015.
What is the lowest contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods recorded in Costa Rica?
The lowest recorded value was 53.5% in 1976.
How does Costa Rica rank for contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods?
Costa Rica ranks 12th out of 113 countries with data for 2018.
Is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods rising or falling in Costa Rica?
Over the last ten years it is down 6.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
The figures come from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods
Unit
% of women ages 15-49
Source
Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
113 places, 1,022 data points, 1961–2024
Last refreshed

Estimated share of women using contraceptive methods, among those aged 15–49 and married or in union. This is compared between modern methods and any method (modern or traditional).