Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods was 71.1% in 2012. ▼ Falling

Latest (2012)
71.1%
Change on year
down 6.4%
World rank
10th
of 113 countries
All-time high
82.0%
in 1993
All-time low
69.0%
in 1999
Years of data
12
1986–2012

Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in United Kingdom, 1986–2012

0204060801986199920121986: 78 % of women ages 15-491993: 82 % of women ages 15-491998: 77 % of women ages 15-491999: 69 % of women ages 15-492000: 75 % of women ages 15-492001: 80 % of women ages 15-492003: 79 % of women ages 15-492004: 78 % of women ages 15-492005: 76 % of women ages 15-492006: 74 % of women ages 15-492009: 76 % of women ages 15-492012: 71.1 % 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

The most recent figure for contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in United Kingdom is 71.1%, measured in 2012.

The figure is down 6.4% on the previous year and down 11.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in United Kingdom peaked at 82.0% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 69.0%, in 1999.

United Kingdom ranks 10th of 113 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 78.0% 78.0% 78.0% 1
1990s 76.0% 69.0% 82.0% 3
2000s 76.9% 74.0% 80.0% 7
2010s 71.1% 71.1% 71.1% 1

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 7 Netherlands 75.6% compare
  2. 8 France 72.7% compare
  3. 9 Ecuador 72.4% compare
  4. 11 Thailand 70.7% compare
  5. 12 Costa Rica 70.0% compare
  6. 13 Mexico 69.1% compare

See the full ranking of 113 places →

More reference data data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in United Kingdom?
Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in United Kingdom was 71.1% in 2012, 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 United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 82.0% in 1993.
What is the lowest contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 69.0% in 1999.
How does United Kingdom rank for contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods?
United Kingdom ranks 10th out of 113 countries with data for 2012.
Is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is down 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this United Kingdom 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).