Family planning is the process of deciding how many children one wants to have, if any, and when to have them. Factors influencing family planning decisions include marital status, career considerations, and financial circumstances. For sexually active individuals, family planning may involve using contraception and other methods to control the timing of childbirth.

Access to desired contraceptive methods supports fundamental rights such as life and liberty, freedom of expression, and the ability to work and receive an education. This access also offers significant health and other benefits. For instance, infant mortality rates are 45% higher when births are spaced less than two years apart compared to 2-3 years, and 60% higher than when births are spaced four or more years apart. Contraceptive use also reduces pregnancy-related health risks for women, especially adolescent girls, and provides various non-health benefits, including increased educational opportunities, female empowerment, and sustainable population growth and economic development at a national level.