Modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women was 71.1% in 2012. ▼ Falling
Modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1986–2012
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
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 71.1% for modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women in 2012.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.4% on the previous year and down 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 82.0% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 69.0%, in 1999.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 10th out of 113 countries with data for 2012, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
Modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 78.0% | — |
| 1993 | 82.0% | +5.1% |
| 1998 | 77.0% | -6.1% |
| 1999 | 69.0% | -10.4% |
| 2000 | 75.0% | +8.7% |
| 2001 | 80.0% | +6.7% |
| 2003 | 79.0% | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 78.0% | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 76.0% | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 74.0% | -2.6% |
| 2009 | 76.0% | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 71.1% | -6.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 388,714 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2012)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 830,495 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 790,556 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.40 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.86 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0111 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.071 units per person (2023)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 82.0% in 1993.
- What is the lowest modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 69.0% in 1999.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 10th out of 113 countries with data for 2012.
- Is modern contraception usage vs. average years of schooling for women rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.