Unmet Need in the Developing World and the Former Soviet Union

John Ross, Futures Group International
Bill Winfrey, Futures Group International

A new estimate for the percentages and numbers of women with unmet need is provided for 115 countries. Fifty-five national surveys cover most of the developing world's population excluding China; countries without surveys are given the regional average. Both married and unmarried women are included, and young women, aged 15-19 and 20-24, receive particular attention. The basic DHS definition of unmet need is employed, but an alternative definition is included that treats certain pregnant and amenorrheic women differently. Traditional method users are considered. Only 17.1% of couples in the developing world have unmet need; or 3.2% for unmarried women. Unmet need numbers reflect upward pressures of population growth, overall about one-eighth in the last five years, vs. downward effects due to declining proportions with unmet need. The net result is that a substantial proportion of couples, fully one in six, or 123.9 million, fall into the unmet need group.