Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Mauritania

Mauritania: Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods was 12.8% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
12.8%
World rank
109th
of 113 countries
All-time high
15.6%
in 2015
All-time low
0.3%
in 1981
Years of data
7
1981–2021

Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Mauritania, 1981–2021

0510151981200120211981: 0.3 % of women ages 15-491991: 1.3 % of women ages 15-492001: 5.1 % of women ages 15-492007: 8 % of women ages 15-492011: 10 % of women ages 15-492015: 15.6 % of women ages 15-492021: 12.8 % 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

Mauritania recorded 12.8% for contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in 2021.

That represents a change of up 28.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Mauritania peaked at 15.6% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 1981.

That places Mauritania 109th out of 113 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 1
1990s 1.3% 1.3% 1.3% 1
2000s 6.5% 5.1% 8.0% 2
2010s 12.8% 10.0% 15.6% 2
2020s 12.8% 12.8% 12.8% 1

Countries ranked near Mauritania

  1. 106 Maldives 14.9% compare
  2. 107 Central African Republic 14.4% compare
  3. 108 Niger 13.9% compare
  4. 110 Sudan 12.0% compare
  5. 111 Guinea 10.6% compare
  6. 112 Chad 6.7% compare

See the full ranking of 113 places →

More reference data data for Mauritania

All data for Mauritania →

Frequently asked questions

What is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Mauritania?
Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in Mauritania was 12.8% in 2021, 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 Mauritania?
The highest recorded value was 15.6% in 2015.
What is the lowest contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods recorded in Mauritania?
The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 1981.
How does Mauritania rank for contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods?
Mauritania ranks 109th out of 113 countries with data for 2021.
Is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods rising or falling in Mauritania?
Over the last ten years it is up 28.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Mauritania 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).