Bangladesh, expanded employment in the garment industry is linked to notably lower rates of marriage
among rural migrants under age 15. The percentage of Bangladeshi girls married by age 18 has declined much more slowly as the youngest
potential brides tend to postpone marriage by only a few years. The majority of Bangladeshi girls continue to marry before age 18.
Women Post Uneven Gains in Household Decisionmaking Power
Married women in many countries are increasingly likely to have a say in household decisions, but these gains do not necessarily apply to
every type of decision. When women are included in decisions about household spending, more money tends to be spent for the benefi t of
women and children. And when women are able to make decisions about their health care, they are less vulnerable to preventable diseases.
Progress in these areas has varied by country, and even in countries showing notable gains, many women still do not engage in all types
of important decisions. For example, in Nepal, only 66 percent of women have a say about their own health care decisions. The same
percentage of Zambian women have the opportunity to make decisions about large household purchases.
Family Planning Needs Increasingly Met by Modern Methods,
but More Progress Needed
“Demand for family planning satisfi ed with modern methods” has emerged as a key indicator of contraceptive availability and use. The
indicator measures the proportion of women who want to delay or limit childbearing and who are using modern methods of contraception.
Family planning experts have urged countries to strive for meeting at least 75 percent of demand with modern methods. Over the past two
decades, a signifi cant number of less developed countries have seen increases in the share of demand satisfi ed with modern methods,
but many countries remain far below the proposed 75 percent benchmark. They will need to accelerate progress over the coming decade
so that increased contraceptive use can translate into improved maternal and child health, slower population growth, increased economic
well-being, and environmental sustainability.
Source: ICF International, Demographic and Health Surveys. Source: ICF International, Demographic and Health Surveys.
Percent of Young Women Married by Age 15 (numbers in white) and Age 18 (numbers in black)
Percent of Demand for Family Planning Satisfi ed by Modern Contraceptive Methods
Percent of Currently Married Women Who Have a Say in Decisions About This Topic
83
76
73
65
49
41
27
17 18 19
1991– 2012
1992
1993– 2011 2000 2011 1992 2014
1994
1992 2012
Niger Bangladesh Ethiopia Egypt Peru
47
28
47
29
19
16
7 2 3 3
Percent Who Agree That Husband Is Justifi ed Beating Wife if She Leaves the House Without Informing Him
Acceptance of Wife Beating Recedes
Violence against women poses a serious challenge to women’s empowerment. Combating such violence often requires changing
the attitudes and beliefs of both men and women. In fact, in some countries, substantial percentages of women actually agree that a
husband has the right to beat a wife under certain circumstances. Many of these women believe a husband is justifi ed in hitting a wife
who goes out on her own without telling the husband. It is encouraging that these beliefs appear to be moderating in most countries.
For example, in 2013, 13 percent of Nigerian men and 25 percent of Nigerian women viewed a wife leaving home without telling the
husband as justifi cation for wife beating, down from 19 percent and 32 percent, respectively, in 2008. Zambia also showed notable
drops for both men and women between 2007 and 2013-2014. Globally, however, there is still a long path to achieve zero global
tolerance of this harmful practice.
Women Men
2006 2011
Uganda
2008 2013
Nigeria
40
26
52
38
32
25
19
13
L AT I O N H I G H L I G H T S
WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT
Own Health Large Purchases
2012–
2013
2001 2006 2001 2006 2011 2013–
2014
2001– 2007
2002
2004– 2012
2006
2000 2002 2007 2012
Mali Nepal Zambia Peru Jordan
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
17
20
18
15
18
32
27
47
53
66
57
37
42
65
74
66
75
83
74
84
88
91
71
77
89
64
79
72
56
17
Under 15
vulnerable to the health
broadly in the past
education: As
women and girls
of marriage
as the youngest
age 18.
Women Post Uneven Gains in Household Decisionmaking Power
Married women in many countries are increasingly likely to have a say in household decisions, but these gains do not necessarily apply to
every type of decision. When women are included in decisions about household spending, more money tends to be spent for the benefi t of
women and children. And when women are able to make decisions about their health care, they are less vulnerable to preventable diseases.
Progress in these areas has varied by country, and even in countries showing notable gains, many women still do not engage in all types
of important decisions. For example, in Nepal, only 66 percent of women have a say about their own health care decisions. The same
percentage of Zambian women have the opportunity to make decisions about large household purchases.