Contraceptives Market Research Report: Size, Share, Key Trends, Growth Drivers, Regional Outlook, Revenue Estimation and Forecast, 2023–2030

Market Overview

The global contraceptives market valued USD 29.4 billion (E) in 2023, which is set to reach USD 46.2 billion in 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 6.6% during 2023–2030.

The rising occurrence of sexually transmitted diseases and the increasing count of females with not fulfilled contraceptive medication and device requirements are projected to boost the market development. As per the WHO, among the 1.8 billion reproductive-oldness (16–49 years) women worldwide in 2020, approximately 1.1 billion needed birth control. Among them, about 842 million females are utilizing contraceptive approaches for family planning, and about 270 million females have an unmet need for contraception.

Almost half the pregnancies, or around 121 million, every year across the globe are unplanned. For the women and girls impacted, the most life-changing reproductive choice—whether or not to become pregnant—is no choice at all, says the State of World Population 2022 report issued by the UNFPA.

Government and Private-Sector Awareness and Contraceptive Accessibility Programs Boost Market

The execution of programs aimed at decreasing the count of undesired pregnancies and associated healthcare expenditure and the growing user awareness are expected to drive the development of the market during the projection period. As per Lancet Global Health, on average, approximately 121 million unwanted pregnancies happened from 2015–2019 worldwide, which is equal to around 64 undesired pregnancies per 1,000 reproductive-age women.

Therefore, initiatives, such as Millennium Development Goals, Every Woman Every Child, and 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, have been introduced by governments and healthcare establishments for family planning, which is endorsing the usage of contraceptives.

Another initiative, known as Family Planning 2020, was introduced in 2012 and extended until 2021. Its goal was to create global partnerships, promote knowledge-sharing, and provide person-centered family planning services, keeping human rights in mind. The initiative was further extended to 2030 to ensure widespread access to contraceptives and other family planning resources worldwide.

Both the private sector (pharmacies, drug shops, general stores, private clinics, NGOs, and faith-based organizations) and the public sector play key roles in providing contraceptives globally.

Moreover, governments in various countries have been conducting extensive campaigns and sex education programs to raise awareness among young people on contraceptive usage, to help them guard themselves against STDs and unwanted pregnancies. Among these, the efforts of the WHO and CDC in increasing awareness of safe sex and condom use are significant.

Contraceptive Devices Category Is Leading the Industry

The market is bifurcated, on the basis of product, into drugs and devices. Of these, the devices category leads the industry, and it is also projected to have the higher compound annual growth rate in the coming years. This is attributed to the increasing awareness of STDs, including HIV; and the effectiveness of condoms in preventing them.

Condoms Are Most-Popular Contraceptive Devices

Condoms dominate the industry, based on devices, particularly in Europe and Asia Pacific, with a significant demand from the public sector. Condoms are easily available at retail stores, pharmacies, supermarkets/hypermarkets, vending machines, and online. Further, they are the easiest to use, requiring no technical knowledge.

Moreover, subdermal implants are expected to have a considerable growth rate over the forecast period. This is attributed to the long-term efficacy of a subdermal progestin implant, which can prevent pregnancy for up to 5 years.

Vaginal Rings Category Is also Growing at Rapid Pace

The vaginal rings category is also predicted to experience significant growth during the forecast period. This will be due to the cost-effectiveness and long product life of this product. The availability of new products and the ease of use of vaginal rings are further expected to drive the demand for this birth control method around the world.

Pills Are Major Contributors among Contraceptive Drugs

The drugs category is subdivided into pills, patches, and injectables, among which the pills category is the major contributor to the contraceptives market. This is because contraceptive pills are widely used for preventing unintended pregnancies and regulating birth rates. It is expected to continue growing due to the increasing contraceptive usage among young women, driven by the higher education levels.

In addition, the high count of government programs aimed at ensuring free delivery of contraceptives in urban and rural areas will fuel the adoption of such pills. Furthermore, the challenges associated with birth control for teens, rising knowledge of modern contraception, and problem of unplanned pregnancies will continue to push the market for pills.

Male Category Showing High CAGR owing to Rising Condom Usage

The male category is expected to showcase the higher CAGR due to the increasing commercialization of male birth control drugs and devices. Additionally, more male condoms are used around the world than those meant for women, which is a key reason for the dominance of the male category on the gender segment.

Still, the female category is projected to show rapid growth throughout the forecast period, mainly because of the growing rates of undesired pregnancies. The government steps to reduce this incidence involve making women aware of various kinds of birth control pills. Further, IUDs and tubectomies have been quite popular among women as a means to prevent undesired pregnancies for many years. 

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North American Holds Significant Revenue Share

The North American contraceptives market is expected to continue to hold the largest industry share due to the supportive government initiatives, high incidence of unwelcome pregnancies, and surge in the occurrence of STDs. The U.S. government has introduced many educational campaigns regarding family planning and contraception, which have enhanced the industry's revenue.

Besides, Asia-Pacific has a significant share of the contraceptives market because of the augmenting government activities regarding population control. The industry in APAC is also projected to be boosted by a surge in the count of unwanted pregnancies, especially among teenagers, and improving family planning awareness. Additionally, the low education level in the rural areas of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and other emerging economies makes the government’s role in controlling unwanted pregnancies even more vital.

Some key players in contraceptives market are:

• Mayer Laboratories Inc.
• Cooper Surgical Inc.
• Bayer AG
• Actavis Inc.
• Merck & Co. Inc.
• Pfizer Inc.
• Reckitt Benckiser plc
• Church & Dwight Co.
• The Female Health Company Inc.
• Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.