Abortion Rates by Country 2022

There are about 73 million induced abortions globally each year, with 61 percent of all unwanted pregnancies and 29 percent of all pregnancies in overall ending in an abortion.

Abortion laws, regulations, and levels of abortion support in the health care system are also kept in a database by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Since many governments do not record or disclose abortion rates, it is difficult to keep track of global abortion rates. As a result, there are no official records of abortions in countries where abortion is outlawed.

The UN’s World Abortion Policies report is one of the most often used databases for abortion rates. The number of abortions done on women between the ages of 15 and 44 in a specific nation is the subject of this study.

An excellent illustration of the problems with abortion statistics comes from the United Nations: Even though it only covers a third of the world’s 193 nations, it nonetheless provides some of the most accurate statistics accessible.

Highest Abortion Rates (annually per 1000 women) in Top 10 Countries – United Nations

1. Russia – 53.7 (2004)
2. Vietnam – 35.2 (2000)
3. Kazakhstan – 35.0 (2004)
4. Estonia – 33.3 (2005)
5. Belarus – 31.7 (2004)
6. Romania – 27.8 (2004)
7. Ukraine – 27.5 (2004)
8. Latvia – 27.3 (2004)
9. Cuba – 24.8 (2004)
10. China – 24.0 (1998)

Abortion Rates Per 1000 Women – Top 10 Countries by the United Nations*

1. Mexico – 0.1 (2003)
2. Portugal – 0.2 (2002)
3. Qatar – 1.2 (2004)
4. Austria – 1.3 (2001)
5. India – 3.1 (2001)
6. South Africa – 4.5 (2000)
7. Greece – 5.0 (1999)
8. Croatia – 5.7 (2004)
9. Switzerland – 7.3 (2004)
10. Belgium – 7.5 (2003)

There are three countries on the list with a 0.0 rating: Brazil, Panama, and Poland. Because it’s not apparent whether this represents a lack of data or an actual value of 0, these nations have been excluded from the rankings.

U.S. abortion rate

At 20.8 abortions per 1,000 women, the United States has the highest abortion rate in the world. In Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a woman’s right to an abortion.

The court ruled that the government cannot interfere with a woman’s decision to terminate her pregnancy before the baby is viable.

Abortion policies vary by state, and some aim to limit abortions before viability. State-by-state abortion rates vary greatly due to various legislation on abortion and other variables.

Furthermore, many political analysts and legal experts anticipate that the Supreme Court may soon overrule Roe versus Wade.

Intriguing relation between the rate of abortions and frequency of abortions

Astonishingly, research reveals that abortion is more common in countries where it is outlawed than in countries where it is permitted.

In affluent countries, women are less likely to have an unexpected pregnancy since birth control, and adequate sexual education is widely accessible. Sexual offenses are less prevalent, so abortions are more easily available.

Unplanned pregnancies are three times more common in underdeveloped and least developed nations, where access to birth control and education is more limited and sexual crimes are more common.

Despite this, 93% of the countries with the strictest restrictions on abortion care are in the developing stage of their development.

Even in nations where abortion is illegal, there is a greater demand for abortions because of these considerations. Pregnant women who have no other option often use unlicensed and illegal abortion clinics in these nations.

Abortions performed illegally are riskier than those performed legally because they are often performed by untrained individuals, posing more dangers and complications, including the possibility of maternal death.

It is estimated that 45 percent of all abortions are unsafe, and 97 percent of those unsafe abortions are conducted in underdeveloped nations, according to the World Health Organization.

The 10 countries with the lowest abortion rates are as follows:

Also See: 911 by Country 2022

1. Mexico (0.1 per 1,000 women 15-44)
2. Portugal (0.2 per 1,000 women 15-44)
3. Qatar (1.2 per 1,000 women 15-44)
4. Austria (1.3 per 1,000 women 15-44)
5. India (3.1 per 1,000 women 15-44)
6. South Africa (4.5 per 1,000 women 15-44)
7. Greece (5 per 1,000 women 15-44)
8. Croatia (5.7 per 1,000 women 15-44)
9. Switzerland (7.3 per 1,000 women 15-44)
10. Belgium (7.5 per 1,000 women 15-44)