Modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women was 70.0% in 2018. ▲ Rising
Modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women in Costa Rica, 1976–2018
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
Costa Rica recorded 70.0% for modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women in 2018.
That represents a change of down 6.5% on the previous year and down 6.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women in Costa Rica peaked at 74.9% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 53.5%, in 1976.
That places Costa Rica 12th out of 113 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.
Modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 53.5% | — |
| 1981 | 55.9% | +4.5% |
| 1986 | 58.0% | +3.8% |
| 1993 | 65.0% | +12.1% |
| 1999 | 71.0% | +9.2% |
| 2011 | 74.7% | +5.3% |
| 2015 | 74.9% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 70.0% | -6.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 53.5% | 53.5% | 53.5% | 1 |
| 1980s | 57.0% | 55.9% | 58.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 68.0% | 65.0% | 71.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 73.2% | 70.0% | 74.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 9 Ecuador 72.4% compare
- 10 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 71.1% compare
- 11 Thailand 70.7% compare
- 13 Mexico 69.1% compare
- 14 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 68.8% compare
- 15 Republic of Korea 67.6% compare
More education data for Costa Rica
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 37,015 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 14,772 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 62,694 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 61,047 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 464,490 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 460,126 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -3.03 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0897 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women in Costa Rica?
- Modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women in Costa Rica was 70.0% in 2018, 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 modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 74.9% in 2015.
- What is the lowest modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 53.5% in 1976.
- How does Costa Rica rank for modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women?
- Costa Rica ranks 12th out of 113 countries with data for 2018.
- Is modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Costa Rica 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 Modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of married or co-habiting women who use at least one modern method of contraception vs. the average years of formal education that women between 15-64 years have attended.