Introduction
Abortion is a procedure that prematurely ends a pregnancy, either through surgical or medicinal means. Because it involves questions of morals, religion, science, and emotion, abortion is one of the most heavily debated topics in society. And despite its controversial aspect, the need and the act of abortion is widely common in the world.
The issue of abortion is often presented as a two-sided debate. On the one hand, there are those in favor of abortion or pro-choice. They argue for a woman’s right to bodily autonomy and her reproductive rights. On the other hand, there are those against abortion, the pro-life, who often argue for the unborn child’s right to life. Yet, the debate is more complex than it is portrayed and involves various cultural, religious, moral, and economic aspects.
While some countries pass laws either outright legalizing or criminalizing abortion, there is a lot of space in between. Some countries will permit abortions for the health or life of the mother or the fetus, while others will allow it for any reason up to a certain gestational age (generally 12 weeks). Other countries will also allow abortion in case of rape or incest.
Learn for yourself about countries where abortion is illegal by exploring the map and charts.
| Country | Abortion Laws | Abortion Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Barbados | Broad Social or Economic Grounds | |
| Belize | Broad Social or Economic Grounds | |
| Ethiopia | Broad Social or Economic Grounds | |
| Fiji | Broad Social or Economic Grounds | |
| Finland | Broad Social or Economic Grounds | 11.1 |
| Hong Kong | Broad Social or Economic Grounds | |
| India | Broad Social or Economic Grounds | 3.1 |
| Japan | Broad Social or Economic Grounds | 12.3 |
| Rwanda | Broad Social or Economic Grounds | |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Broad Social or Economic Grounds | |
| Taiwan | Broad Social or Economic Grounds | |
| United Kingdom | Broad Social or Economic Grounds | 17 |
| Zambia | Broad Social or Economic Grounds | |
| Albania | On Request | 9.6 |
| Argentina | On Request | |
| Armenia | On Request | 13.9 |
| Australia | On Request | 19.7 |
| Austria | On Request | 1.3 |
| Azerbaijan | On Request | 9 |
| Belarus | On Request | 31.7 |
| Belgium | On Request | 7.5 |
| Benin | On Request | |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | On Request | |
| Bulgaria | On Request | 21.3 |
| Cambodia | On Request | |
| Canada | On Request | 15.2 |
| Colombia | On Request | |
| Croatia | On Request | 5.7 |
| Cuba | On Request | 24.8 |
| Cyprus | On Request | |
| Czech Republic | On Request | 12.2 |
| Denmark | On Request | 14.3 |
| Estonia | On Request | 33.3 |
| France | On Request | 16.9 |
| Georgia | On Request | 19.1 |
| Germany | On Request | 7.8 |
| Greece | On Request | 5 |
| Guinea-Bissau | On Request | |
| Guyana | On Request | |
| Hungary | On Request | 23.4 |
| Iceland | On Request | 14.1 |
| Ireland | On Request | |
| Italy | On Request | 10.6 |
| Kazakhstan | On Request | 35 |
| Kyrgyzstan | On Request | 15.8 |
| Latvia | On Request | 27.3 |
| Lithuania | On Request | 13.9 |
| Luxembourg | On Request | |
| Maldives | On Request | |
| Moldova | On Request | 17.6 |
| Mongolia | On Request | 21.7 |
| Montenegro | On Request | |
| Mozambique | On Request | |
| Nepal | On Request | |
| Netherlands | On Request | 10.4 |
| New Caledonia | On Request | |
| New Zealand | On Request | 19.7 |
| North Korea | On Request | |
| Norway | On Request | 15.2 |
| People's Republic of China | On Request | 24.2 |
| Portugal | On Request | 0.2 |
| Puerto Rico | On Request | |
| Republic of Macedonia | On Request | 18.4 |
| Romania | On Request | 27.8 |
| Russia | On Request | 53.7 |
| Serbia | On Request | |
| Singapore | On Request | 12.6 |
| Slovakia | On Request | 11.7 |
| Slovenia | On Request | 15.2 |
| South Africa | On Request | 4.5 |
| South Korea | On Request | |
| Spain | On Request | 8.3 |
| Sweden | On Request | 20.2 |
| Switzerland | On Request | 7.3 |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | On Request | |
| Tajikistan | On Request | 12.6 |
| Thailand | On Request | |
| Tunisia | On Request | 8.6 |
| Turkey | On Request | |
| Turkmenistan | On Request | |
| Ukraine | On Request | 27.5 |
| United States of America | On Request | 20.8 |
| Uruguay | On Request | |
| Uzbekistan | On Request | 7.8 |
| Vietnam | On Request | 35.2 |
| Andorra | Prohibited Altogether | |
| Dominican Republic | Prohibited Altogether | 16 |
| Egypt | Prohibited Altogether | |
| El Salvador | Prohibited Altogether | |
| Haiti | Prohibited Altogether | |
| Honduras | Prohibited Altogether | |
| Iraq | Prohibited Altogether | |
| Jamaica | Prohibited Altogether | |
| Laos | Prohibited Altogether | |
| Madagascar | Prohibited Altogether | |
| Malta | Prohibited Altogether | |
| Mauritania | Prohibited Altogether | |
| Nicaragua | Prohibited Altogether | |
| Palau | Prohibited Altogether | |
| Philippines | Prohibited Altogether | |
| Republic of the Congo | Prohibited Altogether | |
| San Marino | Prohibited Altogether | |
| Senegal | Prohibited Altogether | |
| Sierra Leone | Prohibited Altogether | |
| Suriname | Prohibited Altogether | |
| Algeria | To Preserve Health | |
| Angola | To Preserve Health | |
| Bolivia | To Preserve Health | |
| Botswana | To Preserve Health | |
| Burkina Faso | To Preserve Health | |
| Burundi | To Preserve Health | |
| Cameroon | To Preserve Health | |
| Central African Republic | To Preserve Health | |
| Chad | To Preserve Health | |
| Comoros | To Preserve Health | |
| Costa Rica | To Preserve Health | |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | To Preserve Health | |
| Djibouti | To Preserve Health | |
| Ecuador | To Preserve Health | |
| Equatorial Guinea | To Preserve Health | |
| Eritrea | To Preserve Health | |
| Ghana | To Preserve Health | |
| Grenada | To Preserve Health | |
| Guinea | To Preserve Health | |
| Israel | To Preserve Health | 13.9 |
| Jordan | To Preserve Health | |
| Kenya | To Preserve Health | |
| Kuwait | To Preserve Health | |
| Lesotho | To Preserve Health | |
| Liberia | To Preserve Health | |
| Liechtenstein | To Preserve Health | |
| Malaysia | To Preserve Health | |
| Mauritius | To Preserve Health | |
| Monaco | To Preserve Health | |
| Morocco | To Preserve Health | |
| Namibia | To Preserve Health | |
| Nauru | To Preserve Health | |
| Niger | To Preserve Health | |
| Pakistan | To Preserve Health | |
| Peru | To Preserve Health | |
| Poland | To Preserve Health | 0 |
| Qatar | To Preserve Health | 1.2 |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | To Preserve Health | |
| Saint Lucia | To Preserve Health | |
| Saudi Arabia | To Preserve Health | |
| Seychelles | To Preserve Health | 21.6 |
| The Bahamas | To Preserve Health | |
| Togo | To Preserve Health | |
| Trinidad and Tobago | To Preserve Health | |
| Vanuatu | To Preserve Health | |
| Zimbabwe | To Preserve Health | |
| Eswatini | To Preserve Health | |
| Afghanistan | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Antigua and Barbuda | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Bahrain | To Save the Woman's Life | 11 |
| Bangladesh | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Bhutan | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Brazil | To Save the Woman's Life | 0 |
| Brunei | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Chile | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Dominica | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| East Timor | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Federated States of Micronesia | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Gabon | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Guatemala | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Indonesia | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Iran | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Ivory Coast | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Lebanon | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Libya | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Malawi | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Mali | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Marshall Islands | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Mexico | To Save the Woman's Life | 0.1 |
| Myanmar | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Nigeria | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Oman | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Palestine | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Panama | To Save the Woman's Life | 0 |
| Papua New Guinea | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Paraguay | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Solomon Islands | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Somalia | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| South Sudan | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Sri Lanka | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Sudan | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Syria | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Tanzania | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| The Gambia | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Uganda | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| United Arab Emirates | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Venezuela | To Save the Woman's Life | |
| Yemen | To Save the Woman's Life |
Abortion Laws by Country
Afghanistan
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Albania
Abortion Laws
On Request
Ranked in the World
#43
Algeria
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Andorra
Abortion Laws
Prohibited Altogether
Angola
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Antigua and Barbuda
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Argentina
Abortion Laws
On Request
Armenia
Abortion Laws
On Request
13.9
Ranked in the World
#31
Australia
Abortion Laws
On Request
19.7
Ranked in the World
#17
Austria
Abortion Laws
On Request
Ranked in the World
#55
Azerbaijan
Abortion Laws
On Request
Ranked in the World
#44
Bahrain
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Ranked in the World
#40
Bangladesh
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Barbados
Abortion Laws
Broad Social or Economic Grounds
Belarus
Abortion Laws
On Request
31.7
Ranked in the World
#5
Belgium
Abortion Laws
On Request
Ranked in the World
#49
Belize
Abortion Laws
Broad Social or Economic Grounds
Benin
Abortion Laws
On Request
Bhutan
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Bolivia
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Abortion Laws
On Request
Botswana
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Brazil
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Ranked in the World
#59
Brunei
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Bulgaria
Abortion Laws
On Request
21.3
Ranked in the World
#14
Burkina Faso
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Burundi
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Cambodia
Abortion Laws
On Request
Cameroon
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Canada
Abortion Laws
On Request
15.2
Ranked in the World
#26
Central African Republic
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Chad
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Chile
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Colombia
Abortion Laws
On Request
Comoros
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Costa Rica
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Croatia
Abortion Laws
On Request
Ranked in the World
#51
Cuba
Abortion Laws
On Request
24.8
Ranked in the World
#9
Cyprus
Abortion Laws
On Request
Czech Republic
Abortion Laws
On Request
12.2
Ranked in the World
#37
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Denmark
Abortion Laws
On Request
14.3
Ranked in the World
#29
Djibouti
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Dominica
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Dominican Republic
Abortion Laws
Prohibited Altogether
Ranked in the World
#24
East Timor
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Ecuador
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Egypt
Abortion Laws
Prohibited Altogether
El Salvador
Abortion Laws
Prohibited Altogether
Equatorial Guinea
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Eritrea
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Estonia
Abortion Laws
On Request
33.3
Ranked in the World
#4
Eswatini
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Ethiopia
Abortion Laws
Broad Social or Economic Grounds
Federated States of Micronesia
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Fiji
Abortion Laws
Broad Social or Economic Grounds
Finland
Abortion Laws
Broad Social or Economic Grounds
11.1
Ranked in the World
#39
France
Abortion Laws
On Request
16.9
Ranked in the World
#23
Gabon
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Georgia
Abortion Laws
On Request
19.1
Ranked in the World
#19
Germany
Abortion Laws
On Request
Ranked in the World
#47
Ghana
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Greece
Abortion Laws
On Request
Ranked in the World
#52
Grenada
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Guatemala
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Guinea
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Guinea-Bissau
Abortion Laws
On Request
Guyana
Abortion Laws
On Request
Haiti
Abortion Laws
Prohibited Altogether
Honduras
Abortion Laws
Prohibited Altogether
Hong Kong
Abortion Laws
Broad Social or Economic Grounds
Hungary
Abortion Laws
On Request
23.4
Ranked in the World
#11
Iceland
Abortion Laws
On Request
14.1
Ranked in the World
#30
India
Abortion Laws
Broad Social or Economic Grounds
Ranked in the World
#54
Indonesia
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Iran
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Iraq
Abortion Laws
Prohibited Altogether
Ireland
Abortion Laws
On Request
Israel
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
13.9
Ranked in the World
#32
Italy
Abortion Laws
On Request
10.6
Ranked in the World
#41
Ivory Coast
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Jamaica
Abortion Laws
Prohibited Altogether
Japan
Abortion Laws
Broad Social or Economic Grounds
12.3
Ranked in the World
#36
Jordan
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Kazakhstan
Abortion Laws
On Request
Ranked in the World
#3
Kenya
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Kuwait
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Kyrgyzstan
Abortion Laws
On Request
15.8
Ranked in the World
#25
Laos
Abortion Laws
Prohibited Altogether
Latvia
Abortion Laws
On Request
27.3
Ranked in the World
#8
Lebanon
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Lesotho
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Liberia
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Libya
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Liechtenstein
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Lithuania
Abortion Laws
On Request
13.9
Ranked in the World
#33
Luxembourg
Abortion Laws
On Request
Madagascar
Abortion Laws
Prohibited Altogether
Malawi
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Malaysia
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Maldives
Abortion Laws
On Request
Mali
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Malta
Abortion Laws
Prohibited Altogether
Marshall Islands
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Mauritania
Abortion Laws
Prohibited Altogether
Mauritius
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Mexico
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Ranked in the World
#58
Moldova
Abortion Laws
On Request
17.6
Ranked in the World
#21
Monaco
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Mongolia
Abortion Laws
On Request
21.7
Ranked in the World
#12
Montenegro
Abortion Laws
On Request
Morocco
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Mozambique
Abortion Laws
On Request
Myanmar
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Namibia
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Nauru
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Nepal
Abortion Laws
On Request
Netherlands
Abortion Laws
On Request
10.4
Ranked in the World
#42
New Caledonia
Abortion Laws
On Request
New Zealand
Abortion Laws
On Request
19.7
Ranked in the World
#18
Nicaragua
Abortion Laws
Prohibited Altogether
Niger
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Nigeria
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
North Korea
Abortion Laws
On Request
Norway
Abortion Laws
On Request
15.2
Ranked in the World
#27
Oman
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Pakistan
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Palau
Abortion Laws
Prohibited Altogether
Palestine
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Panama
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Ranked in the World
#60
Papua New Guinea
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Paraguay
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
People's Republic of China
Abortion Laws
On Request
24.2
Ranked in the World
#10
Peru
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Philippines
Abortion Laws
Prohibited Altogether
Poland
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Ranked in the World
#61
Portugal
Abortion Laws
On Request
Ranked in the World
#57
Puerto Rico
Abortion Laws
On Request
Qatar
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Ranked in the World
#56
Republic of Macedonia
Abortion Laws
On Request
18.4
Ranked in the World
#20
Republic of the Congo
Abortion Laws
Prohibited Altogether
Romania
Abortion Laws
On Request
27.8
Ranked in the World
#6
Russia
Abortion Laws
On Request
53.7
Ranked in the World
#1
Rwanda
Abortion Laws
Broad Social or Economic Grounds
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Saint Lucia
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Abortion Laws
Broad Social or Economic Grounds
San Marino
Abortion Laws
Prohibited Altogether
São Tomé and Príncipe
Abortion Laws
On Request
Saudi Arabia
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Senegal
Abortion Laws
Prohibited Altogether
Serbia
Abortion Laws
On Request
Seychelles
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
21.6
Ranked in the World
#13
Sierra Leone
Abortion Laws
Prohibited Altogether
Singapore
Abortion Laws
On Request
12.6
Ranked in the World
#34
Slovakia
Abortion Laws
On Request
11.7
Ranked in the World
#38
Slovenia
Abortion Laws
On Request
15.2
Ranked in the World
#28
Solomon Islands
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Somalia
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
South Africa
Abortion Laws
On Request
Ranked in the World
#53
South Korea
Abortion Laws
On Request
South Sudan
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Spain
Abortion Laws
On Request
Ranked in the World
#46
Sri Lanka
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Sudan
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Suriname
Abortion Laws
Prohibited Altogether
Sweden
Abortion Laws
On Request
20.2
Ranked in the World
#16
Switzerland
Abortion Laws
On Request
Ranked in the World
#50
Syria
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Taiwan
Abortion Laws
Broad Social or Economic Grounds
Tajikistan
Abortion Laws
On Request
12.6
Ranked in the World
#35
Tanzania
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Thailand
Abortion Laws
On Request
The Bahamas
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
The Gambia
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Togo
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Trinidad and Tobago
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Tunisia
Abortion Laws
On Request
Ranked in the World
#45
Turkey
Abortion Laws
On Request
Turkmenistan
Abortion Laws
On Request
Uganda
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Ukraine
Abortion Laws
On Request
27.5
Ranked in the World
#7
United Arab Emirates
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
United Kingdom
Abortion Laws
Broad Social or Economic Grounds
Ranked in the World
#22
United States of America
Abortion Laws
On Request
20.8
Ranked in the World
#15
Uruguay
Abortion Laws
On Request
Uzbekistan
Abortion Laws
On Request
Ranked in the World
#48
Vanuatu
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health
Venezuela
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Vietnam
Abortion Laws
On Request
35.2
Ranked in the World
#2
Yemen
Abortion Laws
To Save the Woman's Life
Zambia
Abortion Laws
Broad Social or Economic Grounds
Zimbabwe
Abortion Laws
To Preserve Health