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
Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Costa Rica, 1976–2018
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%.
Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 53.5% | — |
| 1981 | 55.9% | +4.5% |
| 1986 | 58.0% | +3.8% |
| 1993 | 65.0% | +12.1% |
| 1999 | 71.0% | +9.2% |
| 2011 | 74.7% | +5.3% |
| 2015 | 74.9% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 70.0% | -6.5% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 70.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 60.4%, 1.2× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 70.0% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 59.0%, 1.2× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
- 9 Ecuador 72.4% compare
- 10 United Kingdom 71.1% compare
- 11 Thailand 70.7% compare
- 13 Mexico 69.1% compare
- 14 North Korea 68.8% compare
- 15 South Korea 67.6% compare
More reference data data for Costa Rica
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2987 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.406 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0167 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.3161 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 5.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0907 (2050)
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
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).