Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in North Korea
North Korea: Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods was 68.8% in 2017. ▲ Rising
Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in North Korea, 1992–2017
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 2017, contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in North Korea stood at 68.8%.
That represents a change of down 10.1% on the previous year and up 17.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in North Korea peaked at 76.5% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 53.0%, in 1992.
That places North Korea 14th out of 113 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the top quarter.
Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in North Korea, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 53.0% | — |
| 1997 | 55.8% | +5.3% |
| 2002 | 58.2% | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 56.3% | -3.3% |
| 2006 | 58.5% | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 65.3% | +11.6% |
| 2014 | 76.5% | +17.2% |
| 2017 | 68.8% | -10.1% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 68.8% is above the median for low income countries, which is 22.9%, 3.0× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 68.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 52.2%, 1.3× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 54.4% | 53.0% | 55.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 57.7% | 56.3% | 58.5% | 3 |
| 2010s | 70.2% | 65.3% | 76.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More reference data data for North Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Burning - Crop residues 3.54 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 5.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Agricultural Soils 1,939 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.838 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 5.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Manure Management 11.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Agricultural 1,939 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Burning - Crop 24.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in North Korea?
- Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in North Korea was 68.8% in 2017, 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 North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 76.5% in 2014.
- What is the lowest contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 53.0% in 1992.
- How does North Korea rank for contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods?
- North Korea ranks 14th out of 113 countries with data for 2017.
- Is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North Korea 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).