World Abortion Policies 2013 - United Nations · World Abortion Policies 2013 ... life To preserve...
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United Nations • Department of Economic and Social Affairs • Population Division • www.unpopulation.org World Abortion Policies 2013 Country or area Legal grounds on which abortion is permitted (2011) Abortion rate Government support for family planning Family planning Total fertility (births per woman) 2010-2015 Maternal mortality ratio (per 100,000 live births) 2010 To save a woman’s life To preserve a woman’s physical health To preserve a woman’s mental health In case of rape or incest Because of foetal impair- ment For economic or social reasons On request Year Rate (per 1,000 women aged 15-44) Year Contraceptive use: all methods/ modern methods (percent) Unmet need (percent) World — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 63/57 12 2.5 210 More developed regions — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 72/62 9 1.7 16 Less developed regions — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 62/56 13 2.6 240 Least developed countries — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 35/28 24 4.1 430 Africa — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 31/25 23 4.4 460 Eastern Africa — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 33/28 26 4.7 .. Burundi X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2010/11 22/18 1 .. 4.1 800 Comoros X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2000 26/19 .. 4.7 280 Djibouti X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2006 18/17 .. 3.6 200 Eritrea X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 2002 8/5 29 4.2 240 Ethiopia X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 2010/11 29/27 25 3.8 350 Kenya 2 X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2008/09 46/39 26 4.6 360 Madagascar 3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2008/09 40/28 19 4.5 240 Malawi 3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2010 46/42 1 26 6.0 460 Mauritius 3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2002 76/39 4 4 5 1.6 60 Mozambique X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2011 12/11 1 .. 4.7 490 Rwanda X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2010/11 52/44 19 5.3 340 Seychelles X X X X X - - .. .. Direct .. .. .. .. .. Somalia 3 X - - - - - - .. .. Indirect 2006 15/1 .. 6.3 1 000 South Sudan .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Direct 2006 4/1 6 .. .. .. Uganda 2 X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2011 30/26 1 .. 5.9 310 United Republic of Tanzania 2 X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2009/10 34/26 25 5.5 460 Zambia X X X - X X - .. .. Direct 2007 41/27 27 6.3 440 Zimbabwe X X - X X - - .. .. Direct 2010/11 59/57 1 .. 3.1 570 Middle Africa — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 19/8 26 5.2 .. Angola 3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2001 6/5 .. 5.1 450 Cameroon X X X X - - - .. .. Direct 2011 23/14 1 .. 4.3 690 Central African Republic 3 X - - - - - - .. .. Indirect 2006 19/9 .. 4.4 890 Chad X X - - X - - .. .. Direct 2004 3/2 21 5.7 1 100 Congo 3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2011/12 45/20 1 .. 4.4 560 Dem. Republic of the Congo 3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2010 18/6 24 7 5.5 540 Equatorial Guinea X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2000 10/6 .. 5.0 240 Gabon 3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2000 33/12 28 3.2 230 Sao Tome and Principe 3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2008/09 38/33 38 3.5 70 Northern Africa — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 54/49 15 2.8 .. Algeria X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2006 61/52 .. 2.1 97 Egypt X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2008 60/58 12 2.6 66 Libya X - - - - - - .. .. No support 1995 45/26 .. 2.4 58 Morocco X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2003/04 63/52 12 2.2 100 Sudan X - - X X - - .. .. Direct 2010 9/.. 8 29 1,8 .. 730 Tunisia X X X X X X X 2009 5.5 Direct 2006 60/52 4 .. 1.9 56 Southern Africa — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 62/61 14 2.5 .. Botswana X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 2007/08 53/51 9 .. 2.6 160 Lesotho X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2009/10 47/46 23 3.1 620 Namibia X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 2006/07 55/54 21 3.1 200 South Africa X X X X X X X 2010 5.7 Direct 2003/04 60/60 14 2.4 300 Swaziland X X X - X - - .. .. Direct 2010 65/63 13 7 3.2 320 Western Africa — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 15/10 25 5.2 .. Benin X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 2006 17/6 27 5.1 350 Burkina Faso X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 2010/11 16/15 1 .. 5.8 300 Cape Verde X X X X X X X .. .. Direct 2005 61/57 17 2.3 79 Côte d’Ivoire X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2006 13/8 .. 4.2 400 Gambia 2 X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2001 18/13 .. 4.7 360 Ghana X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 2008 24/17 36 4.0 350 Guinea X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 2005 9/4 22 5.0 610 Guinea-Bissau 3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2010 14/.. .. 4.9 790 Liberia X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 2007 11/10 36 5.0 770 Mali 3 X - - X - - - .. .. Direct 2006 8/6 28 6.1 540 Mauritania 3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2007 9/8 4 .. 4.4 510 Niger X X X - X - - .. .. Direct 2006 11/5 16 6.9 590 Nigeria 10 X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2011 14/9 19 7 5.4 630 Senegal X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2010/11 13/12 1 .. 4.6 370 Sierra Leone 2 X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2008 8/6 28 4.7 890 Togo X X - X X - - .. .. Direct 2010 15/13 31 1,7 3.9 300 Asia — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 67/61 11 2.2 150 Eastern Asia — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 83/81 4 1.6 .. China X X X X X X X 2009 19.2 Direct 2006 85/84 .. 1.6 37 Dem. People’s Rep. of Korea X X X X X X X .. .. Direct 2002 69/58 4 .. 2.0 81 Japan 11 X X - X - X - 2009 9.2 12 Indirect 2005 54/44 9 .. 1.4 5 Mongolia X X X X X X X 2010 16.9 Direct 2008 55/50 14 5 2.4 63 Republic of Korea X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 2009 80/70 6,9 .. 1.4 16 South-central Asia — — — — — — — .. .. — .. .. .. 2.6 .. Afghanistan X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2010 22/16 13 .. 6.0 460 Bangladesh X - - - - - - 2000 4.0 Direct 2011/12 61/52 1 12 1 2.2 240 Bhutan X - X X - - - .. .. Direct 2010 66/65 12 7 2.3 180 India X X X X X X - 2010 2.2 Direct 2007/08 55/48 21 2.5 200 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 3 X - - - - - - .. .. No support 2002 73/59 9 .. 1.6 21 Kazakhstan X X X X X X X 2010 27.4 Indirect 2006 51/49 .. 2.5 51 Kyrgyzstan X X X X X X X 2010 10.8 Direct 2005/06 48/46 .. 2.6 71 Maldives X X - - - - - .. .. Direct 2009 35/27 29 1.7 60 Nepal X X X X X X X 2005 5.0 Direct 2011 50/43 27 2.6 170 Pakistan 14 X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2006/07 30/22 25 3.2 260 Sri Lanka X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2006/07 68/53 1,15 7 15 2.2 35 Tajikistan X X X X X X X 2009 6.1 Direct 2007 37/32 .. 3.2 65 Turkmenistan X X X X X X X 2009 9.4 Indirect 2000 62/45 4 10 2.3 67 Uzbekistan X X X X X X X 2010 5.6 Direct 2006 65/59 .. 2.3 28 South-eastern Asia — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 62/56 14 2.1 .. Brunei Darussalam X - - - - - - .. .. No support .. .. .. 2.0 24 Cambodia X X X X X X X .. .. Direct 2010/11 51/35 1 24 2.4 250 Indonesia X - - X - - - .. .. Direct 2007 61/57 13 2.1 220 Lao People’s Dem. Republic X X - - - - - .. .. Direct 2005 38/35 27 2.5 470 Malaysia X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2004 49/32 4,16 .. 2.6 29 Myanmar X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2009/10 46/46 9 .. 1.9 200 Philippines 3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2011 49/36 .. 3.1 99 Singapore X X X X X X X 2010 10.8 Direct 1997 62/55 4,9 .. 1.4 3 Thailand X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 2009 80/78 .. 1.5 48 Timor-Leste X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2009/10 22/21 32 5.9 300 Viet Nam X X X X X X X .. .. Direct 2010/11 78/60 4 7 1.7 59 Western Asia — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 58/38 17 2.8 .. Armenia X X X X X X X 2010 16.9 Indirect 2010 55/27 1 .. 1.7 30 Azerbaijan X X X X X X X 2010 11.4 Direct 2006 51/13 15 2.1 43 Bahrain X X X X X X X 2002 11.1 Direct 1995 62/31 17 .. 2.4 20 Cyprus X X X X X - - .. .. Direct .. .. .. 1.5 10 Georgia X X X X X X X 2010 26.5 Direct 2005 47/27 9 16 5,9 1.5 67 Iraq X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2011 51/33 1 .. 4.5 63 Israel X X X X X - - 2010 12.5 Indirect 1987/88 68/52 18 .. 2.9 7 Jordan X X X - X - - .. .. Direct 2009 59/41 13 2.9 63 Kuwait X X X - X - - .. .. Direct 1999 52/39 9,17 .. 2.3 14 Lebanon X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2004 58/34 .. 1.8 25 Oman X - - - X - - .. .. Direct 2000 32/25 17 .. 2.1 32 Qatar X X X - X - - 2005 1.1 No support 1998 43/32 17 .. 2.2 7 Saudi Arabia X X X - - - - .. .. No support 2007 24/.. 9,17 .. 2.6 24 Syrian Arab Republic 3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2006 58/43 .. 2.8 70 Turkey X X X X X X X 2008 15.1 Direct 2008 73/46 6 2.0 20 United Arab Emirates X X X - - - - .. .. No support 1995 28/24 17 .. 1.7 12 Yemen X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2006 28/19 .. 4.9 200 Europe — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 72/60 9 1.6 15 Eastern Europe — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 74/57 9 1.5 .. Belarus X X X X X X X 2010 14.7 Direct 2005 73/56 .. 1.5 4 Bulgaria X X X X X X X 2010 19.7 Indirect 1997/98 63/40 4,9 30 5,9,19 1.5 11 Czech Republic X X X X X X X 2010 10.7 Indirect 1997 72/63 9 11 5,9,19 1.5 5 Hungary X X X X X X X 2010 19.4 Indirect 1992/93 81/71 4,9 7 5,9,19 1.4 21 Poland X X X X X - - 2010 0.1 No support 1991 73/28 4,9 .. 1.4 5 Republic of Moldova X X X X X X X 2010 18.0 Direct 2005 68/43 11 1.4 41 Romania X X X X X X X 2010 21.3 Direct 2004 70/38 9 12 5,9 1.4 27 Russian Federation X X X X X X X 2010 37.4 Indirect 2007 80/65 9 .. 1.5 34 Slovakia X X X X X X X 2010 13.9 No support 1997 80/66 9 .. 1.4 6 Ukraine X X X X X X X 2010 21.2 Indirect 2007 67/48 10 1.5 32 Country or area Legal grounds on which abortion is permitted (2011) Abortion rate Government support for family planning Family planning Total fertility (births per woman) 2010-2015 Maternal mortality ratio (per 100,000 live births) 2010 To save a woman’s life To preserve a woman’s physical health To preserve a woman’s mental health In case of rape or incest Because of foetal impair- ment For economic or social reasons On request Year Rate (per 1,000 women aged 15-44) Year Contraceptive use: all methods/ modern methods (percent) Unmet need (percent) Northern Europe — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 78/75 7 1.9 .. Denmark X X X X X X X 2010 15.2 Direct 1988 78/72 4,9 .. 1.9 12 Estonia X X X X X X X 2010 25.5 Indirect 1994 70/56 4,9,20 .. 1.7 2 Finland X X X X X X - 2010 10.4 Direct 1989/90 77/75 9,21 .. 1.9 5 Iceland X X X X X X - 2010 14.5 Direct .. .. .. 2.1 5 Ireland X - - - - - - 2010 4.5 Direct 2004/05 65/61 9 .. 2.1 6 Latvia X X X X X X X 2010 15.6 No support 1995 68/56 4,9 17 5,9,19 1.5 34 Lithuania X X X X X X X 2010 9.8 Indirect 1994/95 51/33 4,9 18 5,9,19 1.5 8 Norway X X X X X X X 2010 16.2 Direct 2005 88/82 9 .. 1.9 7 Sweden X X X X X X X 2010 20.8 Direct 1996 75/65 9,20 .. 1.9 4 United Kingdom 22 X X X - X X - 2010 14.2 Direct 2008/09 84/84 9,23 .. 1.9 12 Southern Europe — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 66/50 13 1.5 .. Albania X X X X X X X 2010 9.2 Direct 2008/09 69/10 13 1.5 27 Andorra 3 X - - - - - - .. .. No support .. .. .. .. .. Bosnia and Herzegovina X X X X X X X 2001 1.4 Indirect 2006 36/11 .. 1.1 8 Croatia X X X X X X X 2010 4.7 Direct .. .. .. 1.5 17 Greece X X X X X X X 2007 7.2 No support 2001 76/46 4,9 .. 1.5 3 Holy See - - - - - - - .. .. Not permitted .. .. .. .. .. Italy X X X X X X X 2010 10.0 Indirect 1995/96 63/41 4,9,21 12 5,9,19 1.5 4 Malta 24 - - - - - - - .. .. No support 1993 86/46 9 .. 1.3 8 Montenegro X X X X X X X 2010 6.3 Direct 2005/06 39/17 .. 1.6 8 Portugal X X X X X X X 2010 9.0 Direct 2005/06 87/83 9 .. 1.3 8 San Marino 3 X - - - - - - .. .. No support .. .. .. .. .. Serbia X X X X X X X 2010 10.7 Direct 2010 61/22 7 7 1.6 12 Slovenia X X X X X X X 2009 11.5 Direct 1994/95 79/63 4,9 9 5,9,19 1.5 12 Spain X X X X X X X 2010 11.7 Direct 2006 66/62 .. 1.5 6 TFYR Macedonia X X X X X X X 2010 11.1 Direct .. .. .. 1.4 10 Western Europe — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 72/68 8 1.7 .. Austria X X X X X X X 2000 1.4 Indirect 1995/96 51/47 4,9 .. 1.3 4 Belgium X X X X X X X 2009 9.2 Direct 2004 75/73 9,20 .. 1.8 8 France X X X X X X X 2009 17.4 Direct 2004/05 77/75 21 2 19 2.0 8 Germany X X X X X X X 2010 6.1 No support 1992 70/66 9 .. 1.5 7 Liechtenstein X X X - - - - .. .. No support .. .. .. .. .. Luxembourg X X X X X X - .. .. Indirect .. .. .. 1.7 20 Monaco 3 X - - X X - - .. .. No support .. .. .. .. .. Netherlands X X X X X X X 2010 9.7 Indirect 2008 69/67 9 .. 1.8 6 Switzerland X X X X X X X 2010 7.1 No support 1994/95 82/78 9,21 .. 1.5 8 Latin America and the Caribbean — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 73/67 10 2.2 80 Caribbean — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 61/57 17 2.2 .. Antigua and Barbuda 3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 1988 53/51 9 .. .. .. Bahamas X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 1988 62/60 9 .. 1.9 47 Barbados X X X X X X - .. .. Direct 1988 55/53 9 .. 1.6 51 Cuba X X X X X X X 2010 28.9 Direct 2006 73/72 9 .. 1.5 73 Dominica X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 1987 50/48 9 .. .. .. Dominican Republic 24 - - - - - - - 2005 12.6 Direct 2007 73/70 11 2.5 150 Grenada X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 1990 54/52 4,9 .. 2.2 24 Haiti 3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2005/06 32/24 37 3.2 350 Jamaica 2 X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2002/03 69/66 12 5 2.3 110 Saint Kitts and Nevis 2 X X X X - - - .. .. Direct 1984 41/37 9 .. .. .. Saint Lucia X X X X - - - .. .. Direct 1988 47/46 9 .. 1.9 35 St. Vincent and the Grenadines X X X X X X - .. .. Direct 1988 58/56 9 .. 2.0 48 Trinidad and Tobago 2 X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2006 43/38 .. 1.6 46 Central America — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 69/64 12 2.4 .. Belize X X X - X X - .. .. Direct 2006 34/31 9 .. 2.7 53 Costa Rica X X X - - - - 2010 6.9 Direct 2010 82/80 .. 1.8 40 El Salvador 24 - - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2008 73/66 9 .. 2.2 81 Guatemala X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2002 43/34 28 3.8 120 Honduras 25 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2005/06 65/56 17 3.0 100 Mexico 26 X X X X X X X 2010 <0.05 Direct 2006 71/67 12 5 2.2 50 Nicaragua 24 - - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2006/07 72/69 8 5 2.5 95 Panama X - - X X - - .. .. Direct 2009 52/49 .. 2.4 92 South America — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 76/69 9 2.1 .. Argentina X X - - - - - .. .. Direct 2004/05 79/70 9 .. 2.2 77 Bolivia (Plurinational State of) X X X X - - - .. .. Direct 2008 61/34 20 3.2 190 Brazil X - - X - - - .. .. Direct 2006 80/77 6 1.8 56 Chile 24 - - - - - - - 2005 0.5 Direct 2006 64/.. 27 .. 1.8 25 Colombia X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 2010 79/73 8 2.3 92 Ecuador X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2004 73/59 7 5 2.4 110 Guyana X X X X X X X 2007 12.2 Direct 2009 43/40 29 2.2 280 Paraguay X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2008 79/70 9 5 5,9 2.9 99 Peru X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2010 74/50 7 2.4 67 Suriname X - - - - - - .. .. Indirect 2006 46/45 .. 2.3 130 Uruguay X X X X - - - .. .. Direct 2004 77/75 6,20,27 .. 2.0 29 Venezuela (Bolivarian Rep. of) X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 1998 70/62 19 5 2.4 92 Northern America — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 77/71 6 2.0 20 Canada X X X X X X X 2009 13.7 Indirect 2002 74/72 9 .. 1.7 12 United States of America X X X X X X X 2008 19.6 Direct 2006/08 79/73 9 7 5,9 2.1 21 Oceania — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 59/55 15 2.4 93 Australia/New Zealand — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 70/67 10 2.0 .. Australia X X X X X X X 2010 14.2 Indirect 2005 72/68 9 .. 1.9 7 New Zealand X X X X X - - 2010 18.2 Direct 1995 75/72 4,9 .. 2.1 15 Melanesia — — — — — — — .. .. — .. .. .. 3.6 .. Fiji 2 X X X X X X - .. .. Direct .. .. .. 2.6 26 Papua New Guinea X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2006 36/.. .. 3.8 230 Solomon Islands X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2006/07 35/27 11 4.0 93 Vanuatu X X X - - - - .. .. Direct .. .. .. 3.7 110 Micronesia — — — — — — — .. .. — 2007 38/37 .. 2.6 .. Kiribati X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2000 36/31 9 .. .. .. Marshall Islands X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2007 45/42 8 .. .. Micronesia (Federated States of) X - - - - - - .. .. Direct .. .. .. 3.3 100 Nauru 2 X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2007 36/23 1 .. .. .. Palau X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2003 33/30 9 .. .. .. Polynesia — — — — — — — .. .. — .. .. .. 2.8 .. Cook Islands X X X X - - - .. .. Direct 1999 43/38 4,9 .. .. .. Niue X X X - - - - .. .. Direct .. .. .. .. .. Samoa 2 X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2009 29/27 48 3.8 .. Tonga X - - - - - - .. .. Direct .. .. .. 3.8 110 Tuvalu X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2007 31/22 24 .. .. This wall chart presents most up-to-date information on legal grounds on which abortion is permitted, as well as estimates of induced abortion rate and some related indicators, in 196 countries, including all 193 Member States and 3 non-member States (Cook Islands, the Holy See and Niue) of the United Nations. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this wall chart do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The designations "more developed regions", "less developed regions", "developed countries" and "developing countries" are intended for statistical convenience and do not necessarily express a judgment about the stage reached by a particular country or area in the development process. The term "country" as used in this wall chart also refers, as appropriate, to territories or areas. The more developed regions comprise all regions of Europe plus Northern America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Countries in the more developed regions are denominated “developed countries”. The less developed regions comprise all regions of Africa, Asia (excluding Japan), Latin America and the Caribbean plus Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Countries in the less developed regions are denominated "developing countries". The least developed countries include 49 countries (34 in Africa, 9 in Asia, 5 in Oceania and 1 in Latin America and the Caribbean), as defined by the United Nations General Assembly resolutions 59/209, 59/210, 60/33, 62/97, 64/L.55 and 67/L.43. Total fertility and abortion rates are not shown for countries or areas with a population of less than 100,000 inhabitants in 2010. A cross (X) indicates that abortion is permitted. A hyphen (-) indicates that abortion is not permitted on that specific ground. Two dots (..) indicate that data are not available. An em dash (—) indicates that the item is not applicable. 1 Preliminary data. 2 Laws on abortion either expressly allow abortion to be performed only to save the life of a woman or are governed by general principles of criminal legislation which allow abortion to be performed for that reason on the ground of necessity. In addition, the British case of R. v. Bourne or local application of that decision apply. Under that decision, the ground of necessity was interpreted to encompass abortion performed on grounds of preserving physical and mental health. 3 Laws on abortion do not expressly allow abortion to be performed to save the life of a woman, but general principles of criminal legislation allow abortion to be performed for that reason on the ground of necessity. 4 Adjusted. 5 Data pertain to a non-standard definition of unmet need for family planning. 6 Estimate. 7 Infecundity measured, in part, with question on current use of contraception instead of ever use of contraception. 8 Data pertain to pre-secession Sudan, including data for South Sudan. 9 Data pertain to a non-standard age or marital status group. 10 Nigeria has two laws on abortion: one for the northern states and one for the southern states. Both laws specifically allow abortion to be performed to save the life of a woman. In addition, in the southern states, the decision of R. v. Bourne is applied, which allows abortion to be performed on grounds of preserving physical and mental health. 11 Although the law allows abortion for economic or social reasons, it provides no specific reference to abortion performed on grounds of mental health or because of foetal impairment. 12 Data refer only to Japanese nationals residing in Japan. 13 Excluding areas in the South zone. 14 The law allows abortion to be performed in order to save the life of a woman or to provide necessary treatment. The law does not indicate which abortions constitute necessary treatment. 15 Excluding the Northern Province. 16 Data pertain to Peninsular Malaysia. 17 Data pertain to nationals of the country. 18 Data pertain to a population subgroup. 19 Data pertain to unmet need for limiting only. 20 Data pertain to a specified time period for current use of contraception. 21 Including some cases of sterilization for non- contraceptive reasons. 22 Refers to the abortion law of England, Wales and Scotland. 23 Excluding Northern Ireland. 24 Laws on abortion have been amended to remove all grounds on which abortion might be performed legally. However, it is not clear whether a defense of necessity might be allowed to justify an abortion performed to save the life of a woman. 25 The Penal Code makes no exceptions to the general prohibition on the performance of abortion; the Code of Medical Ethics, however, allows abortion for therapeutic purposes. 26 Laws on abortion are adopted at the state level. The grounds reported reflect those in the Federal Penal Code. 27 Data pertain to men and women. Notes: Grounds on which abortion is permitted: Indicates legal provisions under which the Government permits induced abortion in the country. Induced abortions are those initiated by deliberate action taken with the intention of terminating pregnancy; all other abortions are considered spontaneous. Seven grounds on which abortion is permitted are distinguished: (1) to save the life of a woman; (2) to preserve a woman’s physical health; (3) to preserve a woman’s mental health; (4) in case of rape or incest; (5) because of foetal impairment; (6) for economic or social reasons and (7) on request. Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, World Population Policies 2011 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.13.XIII.2). Abortion rate: Number of legally induced abor- tions per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 years. Sources: Data on the number of induced abor- tions are from national sources and from United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Statistics Division, United Nations Demographic Yearbook (various issues), avail- able from http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demograph- ic/products/dyb/dyb2.htm. Data on the number of women aged 15 to 44 years are derived from United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision. DVD Edition – Extended Dataset in Excel and ASCII formats (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.11.XIII.7). Unsafe abortion rate: Number of unsafe abortions per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 years. According to the World Health Organization, unsafe abortion is a procedure for terminating an unwanted preg- nancy carried out by persons who may lack the necessary skills or conducted in an environment lacking minimal medical standards or both. An unsafe abortion may be performed by the preg- nant woman herself, by a person lacking medi- cal training or by a health worker in unhygienic conditions or using unsafe methods. Source: Iqbal Shah and Elisabeth Åhman. 2010. Unsafe Abortion in 2008: Global and Regional Levels and Trends. Reproductive Health Matters, vol. 18, No. 36, pp. 90–101. Government support for family planning: Indicates the type of support that the Government provides to family planning services within the country. Governments may provide direct support, indirect support, no support or may limit family planning services in their countries. Direct support implies that family planning information, guidance, sup- plies and services are provided through govern- ment-run facilities or outlets. Indirect support implies that the Government does not provide family planning services through government outlets, but instead supports the private sec- tor, including non-governmental organizations, in providing those services. No support means that the Government allows the private sector to provide family planning services without giving it any material support. Not permitted means that the Government does not allow family planning programmes or services within its jurisdiction. Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, World Population Policies 2011 (United Nations publica- tion, Sales No. E.13.XIII.2). Contraceptive prevalence: Percentage of women aged 15 to 49 years who are married or in a union and are using a contraceptive method. Two different measures are provided: (1) percentage of women using any method of contraception, whether modern or traditional and (2) percent- age of women using a modern method of con- traception, that is, sterilization, the pill, the IUD, injectable, implant, condom or a vaginal barrier method. A union involves a man and a woman regularly cohabiting in a marriage-like relation- ship. Estimates for the world and its regions are population-weighted averages derived from the data for the countries shown. Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, World Contraceptive Use 2012 (United Nations publication, POP/DB/ CP/Rev2012). Unmet need for family planning: Percentage of women aged 15 to 49 years who are mar- ried or in a union with an unmet need for fam- ily planning. Women with an unmet need for family planning are those who are fecund and sexually active but are not using any method of contraception although they report not wanting any more children or wanting to delay the next pregnancy. A union involves a man and a woman regularly cohabiting in a marriage-like relation- ship. Estimates for the world and its regions are population-weighted averages derived from the data for the countries shown. Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, World Contraceptive Use 2012 (United Nations publication, POP/DB/ CP/Rev2012). Total fertility: Average number of children a hypo- thetical cohort of women would have at the end of their reproductive period if they were subject during their whole lives to the fertility rates of a given period and if they were not subject to mortality. Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision. DVD Edition – Extended Dataset in Excel and ASCII formats (Sales No. E.11.XIII.7). Maternal mortality ratio: Number of maternal deaths over a year per 100,000 live births in that year. According to the World Health Organization, a maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes. In circumstances in which cause of death attribu- tion is inadequate, a maternal death is defined as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespec- tive of the cause of death. Source: World Health Organization, Trends in Maternal mortality, 1990 to 2010: Estimates developed by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and the World Bank, available from http:// apps.who.int/gho/data/#. Estimated unsafe abortion rates, by level of development and by region, 2003 and 2008 22 6 23 25 30 29 20 30 6 22 6 23 27 31 28 19 31 6 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 World Developed countries Developing countries Least developed countries Sub- Saharan Africa Africa Asia Latin America Europe Unsafe abortions per 1,000 women 15 to 44 years 2003 2008 Source : Iqbal Shah and Elisabeth Ǻhman. 2010. Unsafe Aboron in 2008: Global and Regional Levels and Trends, Reproducve Health Maers, Vol. 18, Issue 36, Pages 90-101. Legal grounds on which abortion is permitted in the world, 1996–2011 (percentage of countries) 30 35 50 51 65 68 97 28 34 44 47 64 66 98 24 31 41 43 52 63 97 0 20 40 60 80 100 On request For economic or social reasons Because of foetal impairment In case of rape or incest To preserve mental health To preserve physical health To save a woman's life Percentage of countries 1996 2005 2011 Legal grounds on which abortion is permitted in the world, 1996–2011 (percentage of world population) 42 63 67 74 76 79 99 40 60 63 71 75 77 99 40 62 65 72 70 76 100 0 20 40 60 80 100 On request For economic or social reasons Because of foetal impairment In case of rape or incest To preserve mental health To preserve physical health To save a woman's life Percentage of world population 1996 2005 2011 Legal grounds on which abortion is permitted, by level of development, 2011 (percentage of countries) 71 82 86 86 86 88 96 16 20 38 39 58 61 97 0 20 40 60 80 100 On request For economic or social reasons Because of foetal impairment In case of rape or incest To preserve mental health To preserve physical health To save a woman's life Percentage of countries Developing countries Developed countries Countries that liberalized or restricted legal grounds on which abortion is permitted between 1996 and 2011 Grounds on which abortion is permitted Liberalized Restricted 1. To save a woman’s life Andorra Dominican Republic, Nicaragua 2. To preserve physical health Benin, Chad, Colombia, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mexico, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Swaziland, Togo, United Arab Emirates Congo, Iraq, Papua New Guinea 3. To preserve mental health Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Peru, Poland, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Swaziland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Vanuatu Iraq, Japan, Papua New Guinea 4. In case of rape or incest Bahamas, Bahrain, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Cook Islands, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Guinea, Indonesia, Mali, Monaco, Nepal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Switzerland, Togo, Uruguay Algeria, Belize, Ecuador, Iraq 5. Because of foetal impairment Bahamas, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Colombia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Guinea, Jordan, Mexico, Monaco, Nepal, Niger, Oman, Sudan, Swaziland, Switzerland, Togo Iraq 6. For economic or social reasons Bahrain, Fiji, Mexico, Nepal, Portugal, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Switzerland — 7. On request Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Cape Verde, Italy, Mexico, Nepal, Portugal, Switzerland — Definitions and Sources:
Transcript of World Abortion Policies 2013 - United Nations · World Abortion Policies 2013 ... life To preserve...
United Nations • Department of Economic and Social Affairs • Population Division • www.unpopulation.org
World Abortion Policies 2013Country or area
Legal grounds on which abortion is permitted (2011) Abortion rate
Government support for
family planning
Family planning
Total fertility
(births per woman)
2010-2015
Maternal mortality ratio (per 100,000 live births)
2010
To save a woman’s
life
To preserve a woman’s physical health
To preserve a woman’s mental health
In case of rape or incest
Because of foetal impair-ment
For economic or social reasons
On request Year
Rate (per 1,000 women
aged 15-44) Year
Contraceptive use: all
methods/ modern methods (percent)
Unmet need
(percent)
World — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 63/57 12 2.5 210
More developed regions — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 72/62 9 1.7 16
Less developed regions — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 62/56 13 2.6 240
Least developed countries — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 35/28 24 4.1 430
Africa — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 31/25 23 4.4 460
Eastern Africa — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 33/28 26 4.7 ..
Burundi X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2010/11 22/181 .. 4.1 800Comoros X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2000 26/19 .. 4.7 280Djibouti X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2006 18/17 .. 3.6 200Eritrea X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 2002 8/5 29 4.2 240Ethiopia X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 2010/11 29/27 25 3.8 350Kenya2 X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2008/09 46/39 26 4.6 360Madagascar3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2008/09 40/28 19 4.5 240Malawi3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2010 46/421 26 6.0 460Mauritius3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2002 76/394 45 1.6 60Mozambique X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2011 12/111 .. 4.7 490Rwanda X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2010/11 52/44 19 5.3 340Seychelles X X X X X - - .. .. Direct .. .. .. .. ..Somalia3 X - - - - - - .. .. Indirect 2006 15/1 .. 6.3 1 000South Sudan .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Direct 2006 4/16 .. .. ..Uganda2 X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2011 30/261 .. 5.9 310United Republic of Tanzania2 X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2009/10 34/26 25 5.5 460Zambia X X X - X X - .. .. Direct 2007 41/27 27 6.3 440Zimbabwe X X - X X - - .. .. Direct 2010/11 59/571 .. 3.1 570
Middle Africa — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 19/8 26 5.2 ..
Angola3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2001 6/5 .. 5.1 450Cameroon X X X X - - - .. .. Direct 2011 23/141 .. 4.3 690Central African Republic3 X - - - - - - .. .. Indirect 2006 19/9 .. 4.4 890Chad X X - - X - - .. .. Direct 2004 3/2 21 5.7 1 100Congo3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2011/12 45/201 .. 4.4 560Dem. Republic of the Congo3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2010 18/6 247 5.5 540Equatorial Guinea X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2000 10/6 .. 5.0 240
Gabon3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2000 33/12 28 3.2 230
Sao Tome and Principe3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2008/09 38/33 38 3.5 70
Northern Africa — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 54/49 15 2.8 ..
Algeria X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2006 61/52 .. 2.1 97Egypt X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2008 60/58 12 2.6 66Libya X - - - - - - .. .. No support 1995 45/26 .. 2.4 58Morocco X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2003/04 63/52 12 2.2 100Sudan X - - X X - - .. .. Direct 2010 9/..8 291,8 .. 730Tunisia X X X X X X X 2009 5.5 Direct 2006 60/524 .. 1.9 56
Southern Africa — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 62/61 14 2.5 ..
Botswana X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 2007/08 53/519 .. 2.6 160Lesotho X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2009/10 47/46 23 3.1 620Namibia X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 2006/07 55/54 21 3.1 200South Africa X X X X X X X 2010 5.7 Direct 2003/04 60/60 14 2.4 300Swaziland X X X - X - - .. .. Direct 2010 65/63 137 3.2 320
Western Africa — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 15/10 25 5.2 ..
Benin X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 2006 17/6 27 5.1 350Burkina Faso X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 2010/11 16/151 .. 5.8 300Cape Verde X X X X X X X .. .. Direct 2005 61/57 17 2.3 79Côte d’Ivoire X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2006 13/8 .. 4.2 400Gambia2 X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2001 18/13 .. 4.7 360Ghana X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 2008 24/17 36 4.0 350Guinea X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 2005 9/4 22 5.0 610Guinea-Bissau3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2010 14/.. .. 4.9 790Liberia X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 2007 11/10 36 5.0 770Mali3 X - - X - - - .. .. Direct 2006 8/6 28 6.1 540Mauritania3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2007 9/84 .. 4.4 510Niger X X X - X - - .. .. Direct 2006 11/5 16 6.9 590Nigeria10 X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2011 14/9 197 5.4 630Senegal X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2010/11 13/121 .. 4.6 370Sierra Leone2 X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2008 8/6 28 4.7 890Togo X X - X X - - .. .. Direct 2010 15/13 311,7 3.9 300
Asia — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 67/61 11 2.2 150
Eastern Asia — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 83/81 4 1.6 ..
China X X X X X X X 2009 19.2 Direct 2006 85/84 .. 1.6 37Dem. People’s Rep. of Korea X X X X X X X .. .. Direct 2002 69/584 .. 2.0 81Japan11 X X - X - X - 2009 9.212 Indirect 2005 54/449 .. 1.4 5Mongolia X X X X X X X 2010 16.9 Direct 2008 55/50 145 2.4 63Republic of Korea X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 2009 80/706,9 .. 1.4 16
South-central Asia — — — — — — — .. .. — .. .. .. 2.6 ..
Afghanistan X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2010 22/1613 .. 6.0 460Bangladesh X - - - - - - 2000 4.0 Direct 2011/12 61/521 121 2.2 240Bhutan X - X X - - - .. .. Direct 2010 66/65 127 2.3 180India X X X X X X - 2010 2.2 Direct 2007/08 55/48 21 2.5 200Iran (Islamic Republic of)3 X - - - - - - .. .. No support 2002 73/599 .. 1.6 21Kazakhstan X X X X X X X 2010 27.4 Indirect 2006 51/49 .. 2.5 51Kyrgyzstan X X X X X X X 2010 10.8 Direct 2005/06 48/46 .. 2.6 71Maldives X X - - - - - .. .. Direct 2009 35/27 29 1.7 60Nepal X X X X X X X 2005 5.0 Direct 2011 50/43 27 2.6 170Pakistan14 X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2006/07 30/22 25 3.2 260Sri Lanka X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2006/07 68/531,15 715 2.2 35Tajikistan X X X X X X X 2009 6.1 Direct 2007 37/32 .. 3.2 65Turkmenistan X X X X X X X 2009 9.4 Indirect 2000 62/454 10 2.3 67Uzbekistan X X X X X X X 2010 5.6 Direct 2006 65/59 .. 2.3 28
South-eastern Asia — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 62/56 14 2.1 ..
Brunei Darussalam X - - - - - - .. .. No support .. .. .. 2.0 24Cambodia X X X X X X X .. .. Direct 2010/11 51/351 24 2.4 250Indonesia X - - X - - - .. .. Direct 2007 61/57 13 2.1 220Lao People’s Dem. Republic X X - - - - - .. .. Direct 2005 38/35 27 2.5 470Malaysia X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2004 49/324,16 .. 2.6 29Myanmar X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2009/10 46/469 .. 1.9 200Philippines3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2011 49/36 .. 3.1 99Singapore X X X X X X X 2010 10.8 Direct 1997 62/554,9 .. 1.4 3Thailand X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 2009 80/78 .. 1.5 48Timor-Leste X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2009/10 22/21 32 5.9 300Viet Nam X X X X X X X .. .. Direct 2010/11 78/60 47 1.7 59
Western Asia — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 58/38 17 2.8 ..
Armenia X X X X X X X 2010 16.9 Indirect 2010 55/271 .. 1.7 30Azerbaijan X X X X X X X 2010 11.4 Direct 2006 51/13 15 2.1 43Bahrain X X X X X X X 2002 11.1 Direct 1995 62/3117 .. 2.4 20Cyprus X X X X X - - .. .. Direct .. .. .. 1.5 10Georgia X X X X X X X 2010 26.5 Direct 2005 47/279 165,9 1.5 67Iraq X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2011 51/331 .. 4.5 63Israel X X X X X - - 2010 12.5 Indirect 1987/88 68/5218 .. 2.9 7Jordan X X X - X - - .. .. Direct 2009 59/41 13 2.9 63Kuwait X X X - X - - .. .. Direct 1999 52/399,17 .. 2.3 14Lebanon X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2004 58/34 .. 1.8 25Oman X - - - X - - .. .. Direct 2000 32/2517 .. 2.1 32Qatar X X X - X - - 2005 1.1 No support 1998 43/3217 .. 2.2 7Saudi Arabia X X X - - - - .. .. No support 2007 24/..9,17 .. 2.6 24Syrian Arab Republic3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2006 58/43 .. 2.8 70Turkey X X X X X X X 2008 15.1 Direct 2008 73/46 6 2.0 20United Arab Emirates X X X - - - - .. .. No support 1995 28/2417 .. 1.7 12Yemen X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2006 28/19 .. 4.9 200
Europe — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 72/60 9 1.6 15
Eastern Europe — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 74/57 9 1.5 ..
Belarus X X X X X X X 2010 14.7 Direct 2005 73/56 .. 1.5 4Bulgaria X X X X X X X 2010 19.7 Indirect 1997/98 63/404,9 305,9,19 1.5 11Czech Republic X X X X X X X 2010 10.7 Indirect 1997 72/639 115,9,19 1.5 5Hungary X X X X X X X 2010 19.4 Indirect 1992/93 81/714,9 75,9,19 1.4 21Poland X X X X X - - 2010 0.1 No support 1991 73/284,9 .. 1.4 5Republic of Moldova X X X X X X X 2010 18.0 Direct 2005 68/43 11 1.4 41Romania X X X X X X X 2010 21.3 Direct 2004 70/389 125,9 1.4 27Russian Federation X X X X X X X 2010 37.4 Indirect 2007 80/659 .. 1.5 34Slovakia X X X X X X X 2010 13.9 No support 1997 80/669 .. 1.4 6Ukraine X X X X X X X 2010 21.2 Indirect 2007 67/48 10 1.5 32
Country or area
Legal grounds on which abortion is permitted (2011) Abortion rate
Government support for
family planning
Family planning
Total fertility
(births per woman)
2010-2015
Maternal mortality ratio (per 100,000 live births)
2010
To save a woman’s
life
To preserve a woman’s physical health
To preserve a woman’s mental health
In case of rape or incest
Because of foetal impair-ment
For economic or social reasons
On request Year
Rate (per 1,000 women
aged 15-44) Year
Contraceptive use: all
methods/ modern methods (percent)
Unmet need
(percent)
Northern Europe — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 78/75 7 1.9 ..
Denmark X X X X X X X 2010 15.2 Direct 1988 78/724,9 .. 1.9 12Estonia X X X X X X X 2010 25.5 Indirect 1994 70/564,9,20 .. 1.7 2Finland X X X X X X - 2010 10.4 Direct 1989/90 77/759,21 .. 1.9 5Iceland X X X X X X - 2010 14.5 Direct .. .. .. 2.1 5Ireland X - - - - - - 2010 4.5 Direct 2004/05 65/619 .. 2.1 6Latvia X X X X X X X 2010 15.6 No support 1995 68/564,9 175,9,19 1.5 34Lithuania X X X X X X X 2010 9.8 Indirect 1994/95 51/334,9 185,9,19 1.5 8Norway X X X X X X X 2010 16.2 Direct 2005 88/829 .. 1.9 7Sweden X X X X X X X 2010 20.8 Direct 1996 75/659,20 .. 1.9 4United Kingdom22 X X X - X X - 2010 14.2 Direct 2008/09 84/849,23 .. 1.9 12
Southern Europe — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 66/50 13 1.5 ..
Albania X X X X X X X 2010 9.2 Direct 2008/09 69/10 13 1.5 27Andorra3 X - - - - - - .. .. No support .. .. .. .. ..Bosnia and Herzegovina X X X X X X X 2001 1.4 Indirect 2006 36/11 .. 1.1 8Croatia X X X X X X X 2010 4.7 Direct .. .. .. 1.5 17Greece X X X X X X X 2007 7.2 No support 2001 76/464,9 .. 1.5 3Holy See - - - - - - - .. .. Not permitted .. .. .. .. ..Italy X X X X X X X 2010 10.0 Indirect 1995/96 63/414,9,21 125,9,19 1.5 4Malta24 - - - - - - - .. .. No support 1993 86/469 .. 1.3 8Montenegro X X X X X X X 2010 6.3 Direct 2005/06 39/17 .. 1.6 8Portugal X X X X X X X 2010 9.0 Direct 2005/06 87/839 .. 1.3 8San Marino3 X - - - - - - .. .. No support .. .. .. .. ..Serbia X X X X X X X 2010 10.7 Direct 2010 61/22 77 1.6 12Slovenia X X X X X X X 2009 11.5 Direct 1994/95 79/634,9 95,9,19 1.5 12Spain X X X X X X X 2010 11.7 Direct 2006 66/62 .. 1.5 6TFYR Macedonia X X X X X X X 2010 11.1 Direct .. .. .. 1.4 10
Western Europe — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 72/68 8 1.7 ..
Austria X X X X X X X 2000 1.4 Indirect 1995/96 51/474,9 .. 1.3 4Belgium X X X X X X X 2009 9.2 Direct 2004 75/739,20 .. 1.8 8France X X X X X X X 2009 17.4 Direct 2004/05 77/7521 219 2.0 8Germany X X X X X X X 2010 6.1 No support 1992 70/669 .. 1.5 7Liechtenstein X X X - - - - .. .. No support .. .. .. .. ..Luxembourg X X X X X X - .. .. Indirect .. .. .. 1.7 20Monaco3 X - - X X - - .. .. No support .. .. .. .. ..Netherlands X X X X X X X 2010 9.7 Indirect 2008 69/679 .. 1.8 6Switzerland X X X X X X X 2010 7.1 No support 1994/95 82/789,21 .. 1.5 8
Latin America and the Caribbean — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 73/67 10 2.2 80
Caribbean — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 61/57 17 2.2 ..
Antigua and Barbuda3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 1988 53/519 .. .. ..Bahamas X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 1988 62/609 .. 1.9 47Barbados X X X X X X - .. .. Direct 1988 55/539 .. 1.6 51Cuba X X X X X X X 2010 28.9 Direct 2006 73/729 .. 1.5 73Dominica X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 1987 50/489 .. .. ..Dominican Republic24 - - - - - - - 2005 12.6 Direct 2007 73/70 11 2.5 150Grenada X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 1990 54/524,9 .. 2.2 24Haiti3 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2005/06 32/24 37 3.2 350Jamaica2 X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2002/03 69/66 125 2.3 110Saint Kitts and Nevis2 X X X X - - - .. .. Direct 1984 41/379 .. .. ..Saint Lucia X X X X - - - .. .. Direct 1988 47/469 .. 1.9 35St. Vincent and the Grenadines X X X X X X - .. .. Direct 1988 58/569 .. 2.0 48Trinidad and Tobago2 X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2006 43/38 .. 1.6 46
Central America — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 69/64 12 2.4 ..
Belize X X X - X X - .. .. Direct 2006 34/319 .. 2.7 53Costa Rica X X X - - - - 2010 6.9 Direct 2010 82/80 .. 1.8 40El Salvador24 - - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2008 73/669 .. 2.2 81Guatemala X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2002 43/34 28 3.8 120Honduras25 X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2005/06 65/56 17 3.0 100Mexico26 X X X X X X X 2010 <0.05 Direct 2006 71/67 125 2.2 50Nicaragua24 - - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2006/07 72/69 85 2.5 95Panama X - - X X - - .. .. Direct 2009 52/49 .. 2.4 92
South America — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 76/69 9 2.1 ..
Argentina X X - - - - - .. .. Direct 2004/05 79/709 .. 2.2 77Bolivia (Plurinational State of) X X X X - - - .. .. Direct 2008 61/34 20 3.2 190Brazil X - - X - - - .. .. Direct 2006 80/77 6 1.8 56Chile24 - - - - - - - 2005 0.5 Direct 2006 64/..27 .. 1.8 25Colombia X X X X X - - .. .. Direct 2010 79/73 8 2.3 92Ecuador X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2004 73/59 75 2.4 110Guyana X X X X X X X 2007 12.2 Direct 2009 43/40 29 2.2 280Paraguay X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2008 79/709 55,9 2.9 99Peru X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2010 74/50 7 2.4 67Suriname X - - - - - - .. .. Indirect 2006 46/45 .. 2.3 130Uruguay X X X X - - - .. .. Direct 2004 77/756,20,27 .. 2.0 29Venezuela (Bolivarian Rep. of) X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 1998 70/62 195 2.4 92
Northern America — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 77/71 6 2.0 20
Canada X X X X X X X 2009 13.7 Indirect 2002 74/729 .. 1.7 12United States of America X X X X X X X 2008 19.6 Direct 2006/08 79/739 75,9 2.1 21
Oceania — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 59/55 15 2.4 93
Australia/New Zealand — — — — — — — .. .. — 2010 70/67 10 2.0 ..
Australia X X X X X X X 2010 14.2 Indirect 2005 72/689 .. 1.9 7New Zealand X X X X X - - 2010 18.2 Direct 1995 75/724,9 .. 2.1 15
Melanesia — — — — — — — .. .. — .. .. .. 3.6 ..
Fiji2 X X X X X X - .. .. Direct .. .. .. 2.6 26Papua New Guinea X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2006 36/.. .. 3.8 230Solomon Islands X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2006/07 35/27 11 4.0 93Vanuatu X X X - - - - .. .. Direct .. .. .. 3.7 110
Micronesia — — — — — — — .. .. — 2007 38/37 .. 2.6 ..
Kiribati X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2000 36/319 .. .. ..Marshall Islands X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2007 45/42 8 .. ..Micronesia (Federated States of) X - - - - - - .. .. Direct .. .. .. 3.3 100Nauru2 X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2007 36/231 .. .. ..Palau X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2003 33/309 .. .. ..
Polynesia — — — — — — — .. .. — .. .. .. 2.8 ..
Cook Islands X X X X - - - .. .. Direct 1999 43/384,9 .. .. ..Niue X X X - - - - .. .. Direct .. .. .. .. ..Samoa2 X X X - - - - .. .. Direct 2009 29/27 48 3.8 ..Tonga X - - - - - - .. .. Direct .. .. .. 3.8 110Tuvalu X - - - - - - .. .. Direct 2007 31/22 24 .. ..
This wall chart presents most up-to-date information on legal grounds on which abortion is permitted, as well as estimates of induced abortion rate and some related indicators, in 196 countries, including all 193 Member States and 3 non-member States (Cook Islands, the Holy See and Niue) of the United Nations.
The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this wall chart do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
The designations "more developed regions", "less developed regions", "developed countries" and "developing countries" are intended for statistical convenience and do not necessarily express a judgment about the stage reached by a particular country or area in the development process. The term "country" as used in this wall chart also refers, as appropriate, to territories or areas.
The more developed regions comprise all regions of Europe plus Northern America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Countries in the more developed regions are denominated “developed countries”.
The less developed regions comprise all regions of Africa, Asia (excluding Japan), Latin America and the Caribbean plus Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Countries in the less developed regions are denominated "developing countries".
The least developed countries include 49 countries
(34 in Africa, 9 in Asia, 5 in Oceania and 1 in Latin America and the Caribbean), as defined by the United Nations General Assembly resolutions 59/209, 59/210, 60/33, 62/97, 64/L.55 and 67/L.43.
Total fertility and abortion rates are not shown for countries or areas with a population of less than 100,000 inhabitants in 2010.
A cross (X) indicates that abortion is permitted.
A hyphen (-) indicates that abortion is not permitted on that specific ground.
Two dots (..) indicate that data are not available.
An em dash (—) indicates that the item is not applicable.
1Preliminary data.2Laws on abortion either expressly allow abortion to be performed only to save the life of a woman or are governed by general principles of criminal legislation which allow abortion to be performed for that reason on the ground of necessity. In addition, the British case of R. v. Bourne or local application of that decision apply. Under that decision, the ground of necessity was interpreted to encompass abortion performed on grounds of preserving physical and mental health.3Laws on abortion do not expressly allow abortion to be performed to save the life of a woman, but general principles of criminal legislation allow abortion to be performed for that reason on the ground of necessity.
4Adjusted.5Data pertain to a non-standard definition of unmet need for family planning.6Estimate.7Infecundity measured, in part, with question on current use of contraception instead of ever use of contraception.8Data pertain to pre-secession Sudan, including data for South Sudan.9Data pertain to a non-standard age or marital status group.10Nigeria has two laws on abortion: one for the northern states and one for the southern states. Both laws specifically allow abortion to be performed to save the life of a woman. In addition, in the southern states, the decision of R. v. Bourne is applied, which allows abortion to be performed on grounds of preserving physical and mental health.11Although the law allows abortion for economic or social reasons, it provides no specific reference to abortion performed on grounds of mental health or because of foetal impairment. 12Data refer only to Japanese nationals residing in Japan.13Excluding areas in the South zone.14The law allows abortion to be performed in order to save the life of a woman or to provide necessary treatment. The law does not indicate which abortions constitute necessary treatment.
15Excluding the Northern Province.16Data pertain to Peninsular Malaysia.17Data pertain to nationals of the country.18Data pertain to a population subgroup.19Data pertain to unmet need for limiting only.20Data pertain to a specified time period for current use of contraception.21Including some cases of sterilization for non-contraceptive reasons.22Refers to the abortion law of England, Wales and Scotland.23Excluding Northern Ireland.24Laws on abortion have been amended to remove all grounds on which abortion might be performed legally. However, it is not clear whether a defense of necessity might be allowed to justify an abortion performed to save the life of a woman.25The Penal Code makes no exceptions to the general prohibition on the performance of abortion; the Code of Medical Ethics, however, allows abortion for therapeutic purposes.26Laws on abortion are adopted at the state level. The grounds reported reflect those in the Federal Penal Code. 27Data pertain to men and women.
Notes:
Grounds on which abortion is permitted: Indicates legal provisions under which the Government permits induced abortion in the country. Induced abortions are those initiated by deliberate action taken with the intention of terminating pregnancy; all other abortions are considered spontaneous. Seven grounds on which abortion is permitted are distinguished: (1) to save the life of a woman; (2) to preserve a woman’s physical health; (3) to preserve a woman’s mental health; (4) in case of rape or incest; (5) because of foetal impairment; (6) for economic or social reasons and (7) on request. Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, World Population Policies 2011 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.13.XIII.2).
Abortion rate: Number of legally induced abor-
tions per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 years. Sources: Data on the number of induced abor-tions are from national sources and from United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Statistics Division, United Nations Demographic Yearbook (various issues), avail-able from http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demograph-ic/products/dyb/dyb2.htm. Data on the number of women aged 15 to 44 years are derived from United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision. DVD Edition – Extended Dataset in Excel and ASCII formats (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.11.XIII.7).
Unsafe abortion rate: Number of unsafe abortions per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 years. According
to the World Health Organization, unsafe abortion is a procedure for terminating an unwanted preg-nancy carried out by persons who may lack the necessary skills or conducted in an environment lacking minimal medical standards or both. An unsafe abortion may be performed by the preg-nant woman herself, by a person lacking medi-cal training or by a health worker in unhygienic conditions or using unsafe methods. Source: Iqbal Shah and Elisabeth Åhman. 2010. Unsafe Abortion in 2008: Global and Regional Levels and Trends. Reproductive Health Matters, vol. 18, No. 36, pp. 90–101.
Government support for family planning: Indicates the type of support that the Government provides to family planning services within the country. Governments may provide direct support, indirect
support, no support or may limit family planning services in their countries. Direct support implies that family planning information, guidance, sup-plies and services are provided through govern-ment-run facilities or outlets. Indirect support implies that the Government does not provide family planning services through government outlets, but instead supports the private sec-tor, including non-governmental organizations, in providing those services. No support means that the Government allows the private sector to provide family planning services without giving it any material support. Not permitted means that the Government does not allow family planning programmes or services within its jurisdiction. Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, World
Population Policies 2011 (United Nations publica-tion, Sales No. E.13.XIII.2).
Contraceptive prevalence: Percentage of women aged 15 to 49 years who are married or in a union and are using a contraceptive method. Two different measures are provided: (1) percentage of women using any method of contraception, whether modern or traditional and (2) percent-age of women using a modern method of con-traception, that is, sterilization, the pill, the IUD, injectable, implant, condom or a vaginal barrier method. A union involves a man and a woman regularly cohabiting in a marriage-like relation-ship. Estimates for the world and its regions are population-weighted averages derived from the data for the countries shown. Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social
Affairs, Population Division, World Contraceptive Use 2012 (United Nations publication, POP/DB/CP/Rev2012).
Unmet need for family planning: Percentage of women aged 15 to 49 years who are mar-ried or in a union with an unmet need for fam-ily planning. Women with an unmet need for family planning are those who are fecund and sexually active but are not using any method of contraception although they report not wanting any more children or wanting to delay the next pregnancy. A union involves a man and a woman regularly cohabiting in a marriage-like relation-ship. Estimates for the world and its regions are population-weighted averages derived from the data for the countries shown. Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social
Affairs, Population Division, World Contraceptive Use 2012 (United Nations publication, POP/DB/CP/Rev2012).
Total fertility: Average number of children a hypo-thetical cohort of women would have at the end of their reproductive period if they were subject during their whole lives to the fertility rates of a given period and if they were not subject to mortality. Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision. DVD Edition – Extended Dataset in Excel and ASCII formats (Sales No. E.11.XIII.7).
Maternal mortality ratio: Number of maternal deaths over a year per 100,000 live births in that year. According to the World Health Organization,
a maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes. In circumstances in which cause of death attribu-tion is inadequate, a maternal death is defined as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespec-tive of the cause of death. Source: World Health Organization, Trends in Maternal mortality, 1990 to 2010: Estimates developed by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and the World Bank, available from http://apps.who.int/gho/data/#.
Estimated unsafe abortion rates, by level of development and by region, 2003 and 2008
22
6
2325
3029
20
30
6
22
6
23
27
31
28
19
31
6
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
World Developedcountries
Developingcountries
Leastdevelopedcountries
Sub-Saharan
Africa
Africa Asia LatinAmerica
Europe
Uns
afe
abor
tions
per
1,0
00 w
omen
15
to 4
4 ye
ars 2003 2008
Source : Iqbal Shah and Elisabeth Ǻhman. 2010. Unsafe Abortion in 2008: Global and Regional Levels and Trends, Reproductive Health Matters,Vol. 18, Issue 36, Pages 90-101.
Legal grounds on which abortion is permitted in the world, 1996–2011(percentage of countries)
30
35
50
51
65
68
97
28
34
44
47
64
66
98
24
31
41
43
52
63
97
0 20 40 60 80 100
On request
For economic or social reasons
Because of foetalimpairment
In case of rape or incest
To preserve mental health
To preserve physical health
To save a woman's life
Percentage of countries
199620052011
Legal grounds on which abortion is permitted in the world, 1996–2011 (percentage of world population)
42
63
67
74
76
79
99
40
60
63
71
75
77
99
40
62
65
72
70
76
100
0 20 40 60 80 100
On request
For economic or social reasons
Because of foetalimpairment
In case of rape or incest
To preserve mental health
To preserve physical health
To save a woman's life
Percentage of world population
199620052011
Legal grounds on which abortion is permitted, by level of development, 2011 (percentage of countries)
71
82
86
86
86
88
96
16
20
38
39
58
61
97
0 20 40 60 80 100
On request
For economic or socialreasons
Because of foetalimpairment
In case of rape or incest
To preserve mental health
To preserve physical health
To save a woman's life
Percentage of countries
Developingcountries
Developedcountries
Countries that liberalized or restricted legal grounds on which abortion is permitted between 1996 and 2011
Grounds on
which abortion is
permitted Liberalized Restricted
1. To save a
woman’s life
Andorra Dominican Republic,
Nicaragua
2. To preserve
physical health
Benin, Chad, Colombia, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Lao People's
Democratic Republic, Mexico, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria,
Swaziland, Togo, United Arab Emirates
Congo, Iraq, Papua
New Guinea
3. To preserve
mental health
Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Burkina Faso,
Burundi, Cameroon, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Ecuador,
Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique,
Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Peru, Poland, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia,
Swaziland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Vanuatu
Iraq, Japan, Papua
New Guinea
4. In case of rape or
incest
Bahamas, Bahrain, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Cook
Islands, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Guinea, Indonesia, Mali, Monaco,
Nepal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Switzerland, Togo, Uruguay
Algeria, Belize,
Ecuador, Iraq
5. Because of foetal
impairment
Bahamas, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Colombia, Eritrea, Ethiopia,
Fiji, Guinea, Jordan, Mexico, Monaco, Nepal, Niger, Oman, Sudan,
Swaziland, Switzerland, Togo
Iraq
6. For economic or
social reasons
Bahrain, Fiji, Mexico, Nepal, Portugal, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Switzerland
—
7. On request Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Cape Verde, Italy, Mexico, Nepal,
Portugal, Switzerland
—
Definitions and Sources:
Copyright © United Nations, 2013All rights reserved
ST/ESA/SER.A/329Sales No. E.13.XIII.4
Enquiries should be directed to:Chief, Policy SectionPopulation DivisionDepartment of Economic and Social AffairsUnited Nations, New York, NY 10017Tel: 1 917-367-4632Fax: 1 212-963-2147Email: [email protected]
Website: www.unpopulation.org
Printed in the United States of America
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Types of legal grounds on which abortion is permitted
USD 12ISBN 978-92-1-151501-5eISBN 978-92-1-056052-8
WORLD ABORTION POLICIES 2013
asdfUNITED NATIONS
Department of Economic and Social AffairsPopulation Division
E c o n o m i c &
So
ci
al
A
ff
ai
rs
1996 2011
Number of legal grounds on which abortion is permitted
1996 2011
Most restrictive: Countries that do not permit abortion on any ground or permit abortion only to save a woman's life; Less restrictive: Countries that permit abortion to preserve a woman's physical or mental health, or in case of rape or incest, or because of foetal impairment, but that do not allow abortion for economic or social reasons or on request; Least restrictive: Countries that permit abortion for economic or social reasons or on request.
