Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Pakistan
Pakistan: Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception was 3.55 births per woman in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
3.55 births per woman
Change on year
down 1.6%
World rank
43rd
of 215 countries
All-time high
6.81 births per woman
in 1975
All-time low
3.55 births per woman
in 2024
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Pakistan, 1960–2024
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
Pakistan recorded 3.55 births per woman for fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.6% on the previous year and down 12.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Pakistan peaked at 6.81 births per woman in 1975 and was at its lowest, 3.55 births per woman, in 2024.
That places Pakistan 43rd out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | births per woman | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 6.8 births per woman | — |
| 1961 | 6.8 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 6.8 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 6.8 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 6.8 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 6.8 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 6.8 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 6.8 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 6.8 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 6.8 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 6.8 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 6.8 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 6.8 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 6.81 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 6.81 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 6.81 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 6.81 births per woman | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 6.8 births per woman | -0.1% |
| 1978 | 6.78 births per woman | -0.2% |
| 1979 | 6.76 births per woman | -0.3% |
| 1980 | 6.73 births per woman | -0.4% |
| 1981 | 6.7 births per woman | -0.4% |
| 1982 | 6.67 births per woman | -0.4% |
| 1983 | 6.64 births per woman | -0.4% |
| 1984 | 6.62 births per woman | -0.4% |
| 1985 | 6.58 births per woman | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 6.55 births per woman | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 6.52 births per woman | -0.5% |
| 1988 | 6.48 births per woman | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 6.42 births per woman | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 6.36 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 6.29 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 6.21 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 6.11 births per woman | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 6.01 births per woman | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 5.89 births per woman | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 5.77 births per woman | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 5.64 births per woman | -2.2% |
| 1998 | 5.51 births per woman | -2.4% |
| 1999 | 5.46 births per woman | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 5.35 births per woman | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 5.18 births per woman | -3.2% |
| 2002 | 5.01 births per woman | -3.3% |
| 2003 | 4.89 births per woman | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 4.68 births per woman | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 4.59 births per woman | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 4.59 births per woman | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 4.55 births per woman | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 4.51 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 4.46 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 4.4 births per woman | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 4.3 births per woman | -2.1% |
| 2012 | 4.2 births per woman | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 4.12 births per woman | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 4.05 births per woman | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 3.99 births per woman | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 3.9 births per woman | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 3.9 births per woman | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 3.85 births per woman | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 3.81 births per woman | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 3.77 births per woman | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 3.72 births per woman | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 3.66 births per woman | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 3.6 births per woman | -1.6% |
| 2024 | 3.55 births per woman | -1.6% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 3.55 births per woman is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.12 births per woman, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 3.55 births per woman is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2.51 births per woman, 1.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.8 births per woman | 6.8 births per woman | 6.8 births per woman | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.8 births per woman | 6.76 births per woman | 6.81 births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.59 births per woman | 6.42 births per woman | 6.73 births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.93 births per woman | 5.46 births per woman | 6.36 births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.78 births per woman | 4.46 births per woman | 5.35 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.05 births per woman | 3.81 births per woman | 4.4 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.66 births per woman | 3.55 births per woman | 3.77 births per woman | 5 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More population data for Pakistan
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1091 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.7801 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 32.24 million people (2100)
- Population density 662.88 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5037 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.8 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Pakistan?
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Pakistan was 3.55 births per woman in 2024, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 6.81 births per woman in 1975.
- What is the lowest fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.55 births per woman in 2024.
- How does Pakistan rank for fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception?
- Pakistan ranks 43rd out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Pakistan data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The total fertility rate, in a given year. The unmet need for contraception shows the estimated share of married fertile women of reproductive age who do not want to become pregnant and are not using contraception.