Substantial use increase in 1990s.

• Position: World Contraceptive Use 2001

Worldwide, 62 per cent or 650 million of the more than 1 billion married or in-union women of reproductive age are using contraception. In the more developed regions, 70 per cent of married women use a method of contraception, while in the less developed regions 60 per cent do. In Africa, only 25 per cent are using it, whereas in Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean prevalence of contraceptive use is fairly high--66 per cent and 69 per cent, respectively.

These are some of the key findings shown in the "World Contraceptive Use 2001", a wall chart issued by the United Nations Population Division as part of its ongoing monitoring of world use of family planning. The chart presents the most recent data available on the current contraceptive practices in 153 countries and areas of women of reproductive age who are in a marital or consensual union. Also included are data on the number of women who are married or in a consensual union, the percentage using contraception and the types of methods used at the country, regional and international levels; recent trends in contraceptive use, and the percentage of those whose need for family planning is unmet. Data were compiled primarily from surveys based on nationally representative samples of women aged 15 to 49, and pertain on average to the year 1997.

Traditional methods are more popular in the developed countries, where they are used by 11 per cent of married couples, compared with just 5 per cent in the developing countries. The higher prevalence in developed countries accounts for much of the difference in contraceptive use between developed and developing countries. The most used traditional methods include rhythm (periodic abstinence) and withdrawal. As a whole, these are used by 6 per cent of married women in the world.

Contraceptive use has increased substantially over the past decade. In the developing countries, it annually increased by at least I percentage point in 68 per cent of the countries and by at least 2 percentage points in 15 per cent of the countries. In Africa, usage among married women increased from around 15 per cent ten years ago to 25 per cent today; in Asia, from 52 to 66 per cent; and in Latin America and the Caribbean, from 57 to 69 per cent. Developed countries show little growth in levels of use over the past decade, as a result of their already high contraceptive prevalence.

High levels of unmet need for family planning remain in the developing countries...