United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division www.unpopulation.

org

WORLD ABORTION POLICIES 2013

Legal grounds on which abortion is permitted (2011)

Country or area
World
More developed regions
Less developed regions
Least developed countries
Africa
Eastern Africa
Burundi
Comoros
Djibouti
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Kenya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mauritius
Mozambique
Rwanda
Seychelles
Somalia
South Sudan
Uganda
United Republic of Tanzania
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Middle Africa
Angola
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Gabon
So Tom and Prncipe

fn

2
3
3
3

3
2
2

To save a
woman's life
(1)

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
..
X
X
X
X

To
To preserve preserve a In case
a woman's woman's of rape Because of
physical
mental
or
foetal
health
health
incest impairment
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
..
..
..
..
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Abortion rate

For
economic
or social
reasons
(6)

..
X
-

On
request
(7)

..
-

Year
(8)
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..

Rate
(per
1,000
women
aged
1544)
(9) fn
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..

Family planning

Government
support for
family planning
2011
(10)

Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Indirect support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support

Year
(11)
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010/11
2000
2006
2002
2010/11
2008/09
2008/09
2010
2002
2011
2010/11
..
2006
2006
2011
2009/10
2007
2010/11

Contraceptive
use:
all methods/
modern
methods (per
cent)
(12)
63/57
72/62
62/56
35/28
31/25
33/28
22/18
26/19
18/17
8/5
29/27
46/39
40/28
46/42
76/39
12/11
52/44
..
15/1
4/1
30/26
34/26
41/27
59/57

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
-

X
X
-

X
-

X
-

..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..

..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..

Direct support
Direct support
Indirect support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support

2010
2001
2011
2006
2004
2011/12
2010
2000
2000
2008/09

19/8
6/5
23/14
19/9
3/2
45/20
18/6
10/6
33/12
38/33

Northern Africa
Algeria
Egypt
Libya
Morocco
Sudan
Tunisia

X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X

X
X
X

X
X

X
X

..
..
..
..
..
..
2009

..
..
..
..
..
..
5.5

Direct support
Direct support
No support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support

2010
2006
2008
1995
2003/04
2010
2006

54/49
61/52
60/58
45/26
63/52
9/..
60/52

Southern Africa
Botswana
Lesotho

X
X

X
-

X
-

X
-

X
-

..
..
..

..
..
..

Direct support
Direct support

2010
2007/08
2009/10

62/61
53/51
47/46

3
3
3
3
3
3

fn

1
4
1

6
1

8
4

Unmet
need (per
cent)
(13)
fn
12
9
13
24
23
26
..
..
..
29
25
26
19
26
4
5
..
19
..
..
..
..
25
27
..
26
..
..
..
21
..
24
..
28
38
15
..
12
..
12
29
..
14
..
23

1,8

Total
fertility
(births per
woman)
2010-2015
(14)
2.5
1.7
2.6
4.1
4.4
4.7
4.1
4.7
3.6
4.2
3.8
4.6
4.5
6.0
1.6
4.7
5.3
..
6.3
..
5.9
5.5
6.3
3.1

Maternal
mortality ratio
(per 100,000 live
births)
2010
(15)
210
16
240
430
460
..
800
280
200
240
350
360
240
460
60
490
340
..
1 000
..
310
460
440
570

5.2
5.1
4.3
4.4
5.7
4.4
5.5
5.0
3.2
3.5

..
450
690
890
1 100
560
540
240
230
70

2.8
2.1
2.6
2.4
2.2
..
1.9

..
97
66
58
100
730
56

2.5
2.6
3.1

..
160
620

Namibia
South Africa
Swaziland

X
X
X

X
X
X

X
X
X

X
X
-

X
X
X

X
-

X
-

..
2010
..

..
5.7
..

Direct support
Direct support
Direct support

2006/07
2003/04
2010

55/54
60/60
65/63

21
14
13

Western Africa
Benin
Burkina Faso
Cape Verde
Cte d'Ivoire
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Liberia
Mali
Mauritania
Niger
Nigeria
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Togo

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
-

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
-

X
-

..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..

..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..

Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support

2010
2006
2010/11
2005
2006
2001
2008
2005
2010
2007
2006
2007
2006
2011
2010/11
2008
2010

15/10
17/6
16/15
61/57
13/8
18/13
24/17
9/4
14/..
11/10
8/6
9/8
11/5
14/9
13/12
8/6
15/13

25
27
..
17
..
..
36
22
..
36
28
..
16
19
..
28
31

X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
-

X
X
X
-

..
..
2009
..
2009
2010
..

..
..
19.2
..
9.2
16.9
..

Direct support
Direct support
Indirect support
Direct support
Direct support

2010
2010
2006
2002
2005
2008
2009

67/61
83/81
85/84
69/58
54/44
55/50
80/70

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X

..
..
2000
..
2010
..
2010
2010
..
2005
..
..
2009
2009
2010

..
..
4.0
..
2.2
..
27.4
10.8
..
5.0
..
..
6.1
9.4
5.6

Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
No support
Indirect support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Indirect support
Direct support

..
2010
2011/12
2010
2007/08
2002
2006
2005/06
2009
2011
2006/07
2006/07
2007
2000
2006

..
22/16
61/52
66/65
55/48
73/59
51/49
48/46
35/27
50/43
30/22
68/53
37/32
62/45
65/59

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X

X
X
X

X
X
X

..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
2010
..
..
..

..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
10.8
..
..
..

No support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support

2010
..
2010/11
2007
2005
2004
2009/10
2011
1997
2009
2009/10
2010/11

62/56
..
51/35
61/57
38/35
49/32
46/46
49/36
62/55
80/78
22/21
78/60

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
-

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
-

X
X
X
X
-

..
2010
2010
2002
..
2010
..
2010
..
..

..
16.9
11.4
11.1
..
26.5
..
12.5
..
..

Indirect support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Indirect support
Direct support
Direct support

2010
2010
2006
1995
..
2005
2011
1987/88
2009
1999

58/38
55/27
51/13
62/31
..
47/27
51/33
68/52
59/41
52/39

Asia
Eastern Asia
China
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Japan
Mongolia
Republic of Korea
South-central Asia
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Maldives
Nepal
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
South-eastern Asia
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
Indonesia
Lao People's Dem. Republic
Malaysia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Viet Nam
Western Asia
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Cyprus
Georgia
Iraq
Israel
Jordan
Kuwait

3
3
3
10
2

11

14

12

4
9
6,9

13
1

1,15
4

4,16
9
4,9

1
17
9
1
18
9,17

11
4
..
..
..
14
..
..
..
12
12
21
..
..
..
29
27
25
7
..
10
..
14
..
24
13
27
..
..
..
..
..
32
4
17
..
15
..
..
16
..
..
13
..

1,7

1
7

15

5,9

3.1
2.4
3.2

200
300
320

5.2
5.1
5.8
2.3
4.2
4.7
4.0
5.0
4.9
5.0
6.1
4.4
6.9
5.4
4.6
4.7
3.9

..
350
300
79
400
360
350
610
790
770
540
510
590
630
370
890
300

2.2
1.6
1.6
2.0
1.4
2.4
1.4

150
..
37
81
5
63
16

2.6
6.0
2.2
2.3
2.5
1.6
2.5
2.6
1.7
2.6
3.2
2.2
3.2
2.3
2.3

..
460
240
180
200
21
51
71
60
170
260
35
65
67
28

2.1
2.0
2.4
2.1
2.5
2.6
1.9
3.1
1.4
1.5
5.9
1.7

..
24
250
220
470
29
200
99
3
48
300
59

2.8
1.7
2.1
2.4
1.5
1.5
4.5
2.9
2.9
2.3

..
30
43
20
10
67
63
7
63
14

Lebanon
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Syrian Arab Republic
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
Yemen

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
-

X
X
X
X
-

X
-

X
X
X
-

X
-

X
-

..
..
2005
..
..
2008
..
..

..
..
1.1
..
..
15.1
..
..

Direct support
Direct support
No support
No support
Direct support
Direct support
No support
Direct support

2004
2000
1998
2007
2006
2008
1995
2006

58/34
32/25
43/32
24/..
58/43
73/46
28/24
28/19

Europe
Eastern Europe
Belarus
Bulgaria
Czech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Republic of Moldova
Romania
Russian Federation
Slovakia
Ukraine

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

..
..
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010

..
..
14.7
19.7
10.7
19.4
0.1
18.0
21.3
37.4
13.9
21.2

Direct support
Indirect support
Indirect support
Indirect support
No support
Direct support
Direct support
Indirect support
No support
Indirect support

2010
2010
2005
1997/98
1997
1992/93
1991
2005
2004
2007
1997
2007

72/60
74/57
73/56
63/40
72/63
81/71
73/28
68/43
70/38
80/65
80/66
67/48

Northern Europe
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
Iceland
Ireland
Latvia
Lithuania
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
-

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
-

..
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010

..
15.2
25.5
10.4
14.5
4.5
15.6
9.8
16.2
20.8
14.2

Direct support
Indirect support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
No support
Indirect support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support

2010
1988
1994
1989/90
..
2004/05
1995
1994/95
2005
1996
2008/09

78/75
78/72
70/56
77/75
..
65/61
68/56
51/33
88/82
75/65
84/84

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

..
2010
..
2001
2010
2007
..
2010
..
2010
2010
..
2010
2009
2010
2010

..
9.2
..
1.4
4.7
7.2
..
10.0
..
6.3
9.0
..
10.7
11.5
11.7
11.1

Direct support
No support
Indirect support
Direct support
No support
Not permitted
Indirect support
No support
Direct support
Direct support
No support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support

2010
2008/09
..
2006
..
2001
..
1995/96
1993
2005/06
2005/06
..
2010
1994/95
2006
..

66/50
69/10
..
36/11
..
76/46
..
63/41
86/46
39/17
87/83
..
61/22
79/63
66/62
..

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X

..
2000
2009
2009
2010
..
..
..
2010
2010

..
1.4
9.2
17.4
6.1
..
..
..
9.7
7.1

Indirect support
Direct support
Direct support
No support
No support
Indirect support
No support
Indirect support
No support

2010
1995/96
2004
2004/05
1992
..
..
..
2008
1994/95

72/68
51/47
75/73
77/75
70/66
..
..
..
69/67
82/78

X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
-

X
X
X
-

X
X
X
-

X
X
X
-

X
X
-

X
-

..
..
..
..
..
2010
..

..
..
..
..
..
28.9
..

Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support

2010
2010
1988
1988
1988
2006
1987

73/67
61/57
53/51
62/60
55/53
73/72
50/48

Southern Europe
Albania
Andorra
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia
Greece
Holy See
Italy
Malta
Montenegro
Portugal
San Marino
Serbia
Slovenia
Spain
The Former Yugoslav Rep. of Macedonia
Western Europe
Austria
Belgium
France
Germany
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Monaco
Netherlands
Switzerland
Latin America and the Caribbean
Caribbean
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Barbados
Cuba
Dominica

22

24

17
17
9,17

17

4,9
9
4,9
4,9
9
9
9

4,9
4,9,20
9,21
9
4,9
4,9
9
9,20
9,23

4,9
4,9,21
9
9

4,9

4,9
9,20
21
9

9
9,21

9
9
9
9
9

..
..
..
..
..
6
..
..

1.8
2.1
2.2
2.6
2.8
2.0
1.7
4.9

25
32
7
24
70
20
12
200

9
9
..
30
11
7
..
11
12
..
..
10

1.6
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.4
1.4
1.4
1.4
1.5
1.4
1.5

15
..
4
11
5
21
5
41
27
34
6
32

1.9
1.9
1.7
1.9
2.1
2.1
1.5
1.5
1.9
1.9
1.9

..
12
2
5
5
6
34
8
7
4
12

1.5
1.5
..
1.1
1.5
1.5
..
1.5
1.3
1.6
1.3
..
1.6
1.5
1.5
1.4

..
27
..
8
17
3
..
4
8
8
8
..
12
12
6
10

1.7
1.3
1.8
2.0
1.5
..
1.7
..
1.8
1.5

..
4
8
8
7
..
20
..
6
8

2.2
2.2
..
1.9
1.6
1.5
..

80
..
..
47
51
73
..

7
..
..
..
..
..
17
18
..
..
..
13
13
..
..
..
..
..
12
..
..
..
..
7
9
..
..
8
..
..
2
..
..
..
..
..
..
10
17
..
..
..
..
..

5,9,19
5,9,19
5,9,19

5,9

5,9,19
5,9,19

5,9,19

7
5,9,19

19

Dominican Republic
Grenada
Haiti
Jamaica
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago

X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
-

X
-

X
-

2005
..
..
..
..
..
..
..

12.6
..
..
..
..
..
..
..

Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support

2007
1990
2005/06
2002/03
1984
1988
1988
2006

73/70
54/52
32/24
69/66
41/37
47/46
58/56
43/38

X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
-

X
X
X
-

X
X

X
X
X

X
X
-

X
-

..
..
2010
..
..
..
2010
..
..

..
..
6.9
..
..
..
<0.05
..
..

Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support

2010
2006
2010
2008
2002
2005/06
2006
2006/07
2009

69/64
34/31
82/80
73/66
43/34
65/56
71/67
72/69
52/49

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
-

X
X
X
X
X
X
-

X
X
X
X
X
-

X
X
-

X
-

X
-

..
..
..
..
2005
..
..
2007
..
..
..
..
..

..
..
..
..
0.5
..
..
12.2
..
..
..
..
..

Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Indirect support
Direct support
Direct support

2010
2004/05
2008
2006
2006
2010
2004
2009
2008
2010
2006
2004
1998

76/69
79/70
61/34
80/77
64/..
79/73
73/59
43/40
79/70
74/50
46/45
77/75
70/62

Northern America
Canada
United States of America

X
X

X
X

X
X

X
X

X
X

X
X

X
X

..
2009
2008

..
13.7
19.6

Indirect support
Direct support

2010
2002
2006/08

77/71
74/72
79/73

Oceania
Australia/New Zealand
Australia
New Zealand

X
X

X
X

X
X

X
X

X
X

X
-

X
-

..
..
2010
2010

..
..
14.2
18.2

Indirect support
Direct support

2010
2010
2005
1995

59/55
70/67
72/68
75/72

X
X
X
X

X
X

X
X

X
-

X
-

X
-

..
..
..
..
..

..
..
..
..
..

Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support

..
..
2006
2006/07
..

..
..
36/..
35/27
..

X
X
X
X
X

X
-

X
-

..
..
..
..
..
..

..
..
..
..
..
..

Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support

2007
2000
2007
..
2007
2003

38/37
36/31
45/42
..
36/23
33/30

X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
-

X
X
X
-

X
-

..
..
..
..
..
..

..
..
..
..
..
..

Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support
Direct support

..
1999
..
2009
..
2007

..
43/38
..
29/27
..
31/22

Central America
Belize
Costa Rica
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
South America
Argentina
Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela (Bolivarian Rep. of)

Melanesia
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Solomon Islands
Vanuatu
Micronesia
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Micronesia (Federated States of)
Nauru
Palau
Polynesia
Cook Islands
Niue
Samoa
Tonga
Tuvalu

24
3
2
2

24
25
26
24

24

4,9

9
9
9

9
9

27

6,20,27

9
9

9
4,9

1
9

4,9

11
..
37
12
..
..
..
..

2.5
2.2
3.2
2.3
..
1.9
2.0
1.6

150
24
350
110
..
35
48
46

2.4
2.7
1.8
2.2
3.8
3.0
2.2
2.5
2.4

..
53
40
81
120
100
50
95
92

2.1
2.2
3.2
1.8
1.8
2.3
2.4
2.2
2.9
2.4
2.3
2.0
2.4

..
77
190
56
25
92
110
280
99
67
130
29
92

5,9

2.0
1.7
2.1

20
12
21

15
10
..
..

2.4
2.0
1.9
2.1

93
..
7
15

..
..
..
11
..

3.6
2.6
3.8
4.0
3.7

..
26
230
93
110

..
..
8
..
..
..

2.6
..
..
3.3
..
..

..
..
..
100
..
..

..
..
..
48
..
24

2.8
..
..
3.8
3.8
..

..
..
..
..
110
..

12
..
..
..
28
17
12
8
..
9
..
20
6
..
8
7
29
5
7
..
..
19
6
..
7

5
5

5
5,9

NOTES:

This wall chart presents most up-to-date information on legal grounds on which abortion is permitted, as well as esti
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
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 count
reached by a particular country or area in the development process. The term "country" as used in this wall chart also

The more developed regions comprise all regions of Europe plus Northern America, Australia, New Zealand and Jap

The less developed regions comprise all regions of Africa, Asia (excluding Japan), Latin America and the Caribbean
The least developed countries include 49 countries (34 in Africa, 9 in Asia, 5 in Oceania and 1 in Latin America
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 inhabitan
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 governe
ground of necessity. In addition, the British case of R. v. Bourne or local application of that decision apply. Under th
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 princip
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 specifica
decision of R. v. Bourne is applied, which allows abortion to be performed on grounds of preserving physical and me

11/ Although the law allows abortion for economic or social reasons, it provides no specific reference to abortion pe
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. T
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. How

25/ The Penal Code makes no exceptions to the general prohibition on the performance of abortion; the Code of Med
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.

permitted, as well as estimates of induced abortion rate and some related indicators, in 196 countries, including all 193 Member
ns.

ply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of an
iers or boundaries.

s" and "developing countries" are intended for statistical convenience and do not necessarily express a judgment about the stage
sed in this wall chart also refers, as appropriate, to territories or areas.

lia, New Zealand and Japan. Countries in the more developed regions are denominated developed countries.

merica and the Caribbean plus Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Countries in the less developed regions are denominated "de

and 1 in Latin America and the Caribbean), as defined by the

7/L.43.

ss than 100,000 inhabitants in 2010.

a woman or are governed by general principles of criminal legislation which allow abortion to be performed for that reason on t
decision apply. Under that decision, the ground of necessity was interpreted to encompass abortion performed on grounds of

oman, but general principles of criminal legislation allow abortion to be performed for that reason on the ground of necessity.

er use of contraception.

ates. Both laws specifically allow abortion to be performed to save the life of a woman. In addition, in the southern states, the
reserving physical and mental health.
reference to abortion performed on grounds of mental health or because of foetal impairment.

ide necessary treatment. The law does not indicate which abortions constitute necessary treatment.

e performed legally. However, it is not clear whether a defense of necessity might be allowed to justify an abortion performed to

bortion; the Code of Medical Ethics, however, allows abortion for therapeutic purposes.

e Federal Penal Code.

cluding all 193 Member

ning the legal status of any

udgment about the stage

ions are denominated "developing countries".

rmed for that reason on the

ormed on grounds of

e ground of necessity.

he southern states, the

an abortion performed to save the life of a woman.