Contraceptive methods used by women worldwide 2019

Female sterilization is the most common contraceptive method used worldwide with over 200 million users. In comparison, 189 million women used male condoms to avoid pregnancy. This statistic shows the number of women of reproductive age worldwide using various contraceptive methods in 2019.

Estimated number of women of reproductive age worldwide using various contraceptive methods in 2019* (in millions)

Characteristic	Number of women in millions
Female sterilization	219
Male condom	189
Intrauterine device (IUD)	159
Pill	151
Injectable	74
Withdrawal	47
Rhythm	29
Implant	23
Male sterilization	16
Other	15

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Release date

December 2019

More information

Region

Worldwide

Survey time period

2019

Age group

15-49 years

Supplementary notes

Based on data from 1,247 surveys for 195 countries or areas of the world and additional tabulations obtained from microdata and survey reports.

* Reproductive age = 15-49 years

"Traditional methods of contraception:
Rhythm (calendar) method: Women monitor their pattern of menstrual cycle (includes fertility awareness-based methods, periodic abstinence). Withdrawal (coitus interruptus): Man withdraws his penis from his partner’s vagina and ejaculates outside the vagina, keeping semen away from her external genitalia.
Other methods:
For the purpose of this data booklet, these include modern methods such as female condoms, vaginal barrier methods (including the diaphragm, cervical cap and spermicidal foam, jelly, cream and sponge), the lactational amenorrhea method (LAM), emergency contraception and other modern methods (e.g., the contraceptive patch or vaginal ring), and traditional methods such as douching, prolonged abstinence, gris-gris, incantation, medicinal plants, abdominal massage and other local methods."

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