Abortion law

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File:Abortion Laws.svg
Legality of abortion by country or territory
Legal on request:
  No gestational limit
  Gestational limit after the first 17 weeks
  Gestational limit in the first 17 weeks
  Unclear gestational limit
Legally restricted to cases of:
  Risk to woman's life, to her health*, rape*, fetal impairment*, or socioeconomic factors
  Risk to woman's life, to her health*, rape, or fetal impairment
  Risk to woman's life, to her health*, or fetal impairment
  Risk to woman's life*, to her health*, or rape
  Risk to woman's life or to her health
  Risk to woman's life
  Illegal with no exceptions
  No information
* Does not apply to some countries or territories in that category
Note: In some countries or territories, abortion laws are modified by other laws, regulations, legal principles or judicial decisions. This map shows their combined effect as implemented by the authorities.

Abortion laws vary widely among countries and territories, and have changed over time. Such laws range from abortion being freely available on request, to regulation or restrictions of various kinds, to outright prohibition in all circumstances. Many countries and territories that allow abortion have gestational limits for the procedure depending on the reason; with the majority being up to 12 weeks for abortion on request, up to 24 weeks for rape, incest, or socioeconomic reasons, and more for fetal impairment or risk to the woman's health or life. As of 2022, countries that legally allow abortion on request or for socioeconomic reasons comprise about 60% of the world's population. In 2024, France became the first country to explicitly protect abortion rights in its constitution,[1] while Yugoslavia implicitly inscribed abortion rights in its constitution in 1974.[2] Abortion continues to be a controversial subject in many societies on religious, moral, ethical, practical, and political grounds. Though it has been banned and otherwise limited by law in many jurisdictions, abortions continue to be common in many areas, even where they are illegal. According to a 2007 study conducted by the Guttmacher Institute and the World Health Organization, abortion rates are similar in countries where the procedure is legal and in countries where it is not,[3][4] due to unavailability of modern contraceptives in areas where abortion is illegal.[5] Also according to the study, the number of abortions worldwide is declining due to increased access to contraception.[3][4]

History

Abortion has existed since ancient times, with natural abortifacients being found amongst a wide variety of tribal people and in most written sources. The earliest known records of abortion techniques and general reproductive regulation date as far back as 2700 BC in China, and 1550 BC in Egypt.[6] Early texts contain little mention of abortion or abortion law. When it does appear, it is entailed in concerns about male property rights, preservation of social order, and the duty to produce fit citizens for the state or community. The harshest penalties were generally reserved for a woman who procured an abortion against her husband's wishes, and for slaves who produced abortion in a woman of high status. Religious texts often contained severe condemnations of abortion, recommending penance but seldom enforcing secular punishment. As a matter of common law in England and the United States, abortion was illegal anytime after quickening—when the movements of the fetus could first be felt by the woman. Under the born alive rule, the fetus was not considered a "reasonable being" in rerum natura; and abortion was not treated as murder in English law. In the 19th century, many Western countries began to codify abortion laws or place further restrictions on the practice. Anti-abortion movements were led by a combination of groups opposed to abortion on moral grounds, and by medical professionals who were concerned about the danger presented by the procedure and the regular involvement of non-medical personnel in performing abortions. Nevertheless, it became clear that illegal abortions continued to take place in large numbers even where abortions were rigorously restricted. It was difficult to obtain sufficient evidence to prosecute the women and abortion doctors, and judges and juries were often reluctant to convict. For example, Henry Morgentaler, a Canadian pro-choice advocate, was never convicted by a jury. He was acquitted by a jury in the 1973 court case, but the acquittal was overturned by five judges on the Quebec Court of Appeal in 1974. He went to prison, appealed, and was again acquitted. In total, he served 10 months, suffering a heart attack while in solitary confinement. Many were also outraged at the invasion of privacy and the medical problems resulting from abortions taking place illegally in medically dangerous circumstances. Political movements soon coalesced around the legalization of abortion and liberalization of existing laws. By the first half of the 20th century, many countries had begun to liberalize abortion laws, at least when performed to protect the woman's life and in some cases on the woman's request. Under Vladimir Lenin, the Soviet Union became the first modern state in legalizing abortions on request—the law was first introduced in the Russian SFSR in 1920, in the Ukrainian SSR in July 1921, and then in the whole country.[7][8] The Bolsheviks saw abortion as a social evil created by the capitalist system, which left women without the economic means to raise children, forcing them to perform abortions. The Soviet state initially preserved the tsarist ban on abortion, which treated the practice as premeditated murder. However, abortion had been practiced by Russian women for decades and its incidence skyrocketed further as a result of the Russian Civil War, which had left the country economically devastated and made it extremely difficult for many people to have children. The Soviet state recognized that banning abortion would not stop the practice because women would continue using the services of private abortionists. In rural areas, these were often old women who had no medical training, which made their services very dangerous to women's health. In November 1920, the Soviet government legalized abortion in state hospitals. The state considered abortion as a temporary necessary evil, which would disappear in the future communist society, which would be able to provide for all the children conceived.[9][page needed] In 1936, Joseph Stalin placed prohibitions on abortions, which restricted them to medically recommended cases only, in order to increase population growth after the enormous loss of life in World War I and the Russian Civil War.[10][11][8] In the 1930s, several countries (Poland, Turkey, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, Mexico) legalized abortion in some special cases (pregnancy from rape, threat to mother's health, fetal malformation). In Japan, abortion was legalized in 1948 by the Eugenic Protection Law,[12] amended in May 1949 to allow abortions for economic reasons.[13] Abortion was legalized in 1952 in Yugoslavia (on a limited basis[which?]), and again in 1955 in the Soviet Union on request. Some Soviet allies (Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Romania) legalized abortion in the late 1950s under pressure from the Soviets.[how?][14][additional citation(s) needed] In the United Kingdom, the Abortion Act of 1967 clarified and prescribed abortions as legal up to 28 weeks (later reduced to 24 weeks). Other countries soon followed, including Canada (1969), the United States (1973 in most states, pursuant to Roe v. Wade—the U.S. Supreme Court decision which legalized abortion nationwide), Tunisia and Denmark (1973), Austria (1974), France and Sweden (1975), New Zealand (1977), Italy (1978), the Netherlands (1984), and Belgium (1990). However, these countries vary greatly in the circumstances under which abortion was to be permitted. In 1975, the West German Supreme Court struck down a law legalizing abortion, holding that they contradict the constitution's human rights guarantees. In 1976, a law was adopted which enabled abortions up to 12 weeks. After Germany's reunification, despite the legal status of abortion in former East Germany, a compromise was reached which deemed most abortions up to 12 weeks legal, but this law was struck down by the Federal Constitutional Court and amended to only remove the punishment in such cases, without any statement to legality. In jurisdictions governed under sharia law, abortion after the 120th day from conception (19 weeks from LMP) is illegal, especially for those who follow the recommendations of the Hanafi legal school, while most jurists of the Maliki legal school "believe that ensoulment occurs at the moment of conception, and they tend to forbid abortion at any point [similar to the Roman Catholic Church]. The other schools hold intermediate positions. ... The penalty prescribed for an illegal abortion varies according to particular circumstances involved. According to sharia, it should be limited to a fine that is paid to the father or heirs of the fetus."[15]

Timeline of abortion on request

The table below lists in chronological order the United Nations member states that have legalized abortion on request in at least some initial part of the pregnancy, or that have fully decriminalized abortion. As of 2024, 67 countries have legalized or decriminalized abortion on request.

Notes

Where a country has legalized abortion on request, prohibited it, and legalized it again (e.g., former Soviet Union, Romania), only the later year is included. Countries that result from the merger of states where abortion on request was legal at the moment of unification show the year when it became legal across the whole national territory (e.g., Germany, Vietnam). Similarly, countries where not all subnational jurisdictions have legalized abortion on request are not included, leading to the exclusion of Australia, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. Countries where abortion on request was once legalized nationwide but has since been prohibited in at least part of the country, such as the United States and Poland, are also excluded. Countries are counted even if they were not yet independent at the time. The year refers to when the relevant law or judicial decision came into force, which may be different from the year when it was approved.

Year legalized Countries CpY CC
1955 (File:Flag of Armenia.svg Armenia File:Flag of Azerbaijan.svg Azerbaijan File:Flag of Belarus.svg Belarus File:Flag of Estonia.svg Estonia File:Flag of Georgia.svg Georgia File:Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Kazakhstan File:Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg Kyrgyzstan File:Flag of Latvia.svg Latvia File:Flag of Lithuania.svg Lithuania File:Flag of Moldova.svg Moldova File:Flag of Russia.svg Russia File:Flag of Tajikistan.svg Tajikistan File:Flag of Turkmenistan.svg Turkmenistan File:Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine File:Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Uzbekistan as part of the Soviet Union) 15 15
1957 File:Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China[16][lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2] (File:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic File:Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia as part of Czechoslovakia)[lower-alpha 3] 3 18
1965 File:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba 1 19
1973 File:Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark File:Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia[22] 2 21
1974 File:Flag of Singapore.svg Singapore File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden 2 23
1975 File:Flag of Austria.svg Austria File:Flag of France.svg France[lower-alpha 4] File:Flag of Vietnam.svg Vietnam[lower-alpha 5] 3 26
1977 (File:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina File:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia File:Flag of Montenegro.svg Montenegro File:Flag of North Macedonia.svg North Macedonia File:Flag of Serbia.svg Serbia File:Flag of Slovenia.svg Slovenia as part of Yugoslavia) 6 32
1978 File:Flag of Italy.svg Italy File:Flag of Luxembourg.svg Luxembourg 2 34
1979 File:Flag of Norway.svg Norway[lower-alpha 6][lower-alpha 7] 1 35
1983 File:Flag of Turkey.svg Turkey 1 36
1984 File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands[lower-alpha 8] 1 37
1986 File:Flag of Cape Verde.svg Cape Verde File:Flag of Greece.svg Greece 2 39
1988 File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada 1 40
1989 File:Flag of Mongolia.svg Mongolia[29] 1 41
1990 File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium File:Flag of Bulgaria.svg Bulgaria File:Flag of Romania.svg Romania 3 44
1992 File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany[lower-alpha 9] 1 45
1993 File:Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg Guinea-Bissau[30][31] 1 46
1995 File:Flag of Guyana.svg Guyana 1 47
1996 File:Flag of Albania.svg Albania[lower-alpha 10] 1 48
1997 File:Flag of Cambodia.svg Cambodia File:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa 2 50
2002 File:Flag of Nepal.svg Nepal File:Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Switzerland 2 52
2007 File:Flag of Portugal.svg Portugal 1 53
2010 File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain 1 54
2012 File:Flag of São Tomé and Príncipe.svg São Tomé and Príncipe[33] File:Flag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay 2 56
2015 File:Flag of Mozambique.svg Mozambique[lower-alpha 11] 1 57
2018 File:Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus 1 58
2019 File:Flag of Iceland.svg Iceland File:Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland[lower-alpha 12] 2 60
2020 File:Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand 1 61
2021 File:Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina[lower-alpha 13] File:Flag of South Korea.svg South Korea File:Flag of Thailand.svg Thailand 3 64
2022 File:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia File:Flag of San Marino.svg San Marino 2 66
2023 File:Flag of Finland.svg Finland[lower-alpha 14] 1 67

International law

There are no international or multinational treaties that deal directly with abortion but human rights law and international criminal law touch on the issues. The Nuremberg Military Tribunal decided the case of United States v Greifelt and Others (1948) on the basis that abortion was a crime within its jurisdiction according to the law defining crimes against humanity and thus within its definition of murder and extermination.[37] The Catholic Church remains highly influential in Latin America, and opposes the legalisation of abortion.[38] The American Convention on Human Rights, which in 2013 had 23 Latin American parties, declares human life as commencing with conception. In Latin America, abortion on request is only legal in Cuba (1965), Uruguay (2012),[39] Argentina (2021),[36] Colombia (2022)[40] and in parts of Mexico.[41][42] Abortions are completely banned in the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, and only allowed in certain restricted circumstances in most other Latin American nations.[38] In the 2010 case of A, B and C v Ireland, the European Court of Human Rights found that the European Convention on Human Rights did not include a right to an abortion. In 2005, the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UN HRC) ordered Peru to compensate a woman (known as K.L.) for denying her a medically indicated abortion; this was the first time a United Nations Committee had held any country accountable for not ensuring access to safe, legal abortion, and the first time the committee affirmed that abortion is a human right.[43] K.L. received the compensation in 2016.[43] In the 2016 case of Mellet v Ireland, the UN HRC found Ireland's abortion laws violated the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights because Irish law banned abortion in cases of fatal fetal abnormalities.

National laws

While abortions are legal at least under certain conditions in almost all countries, these conditions vary widely. According to a United Nations (UN) report with data gathered up to 2019,[44] abortion is allowed in 98% of countries in order to save a woman's life. Other commonly-accepted reasons are preserving physical (72%) or mental health (69%), in cases of rape or incest (61%), and in cases of fetal impairment (61%). Performing an abortion because of economic or social reasons is accepted in 37% of countries. Performing abortion only on the basis of a woman's request is allowed in 34% of countries, including in Canada, most European countries and China.[44] The exact scope of each legal ground also varies. For example, the laws of some countries cite health risks and fetal impairment as general grounds for abortion and allow a broad interpretation of such terms in practice, while other countries restrict them to a specific list of medical conditions or subcategories. Many countries that allow abortion have gestational limits for the procedure depending on the reason; with the majority being up to 12 weeks for abortion on request, up to 24 weeks for social, economic, rape, or incest reasons, and more for fetal impairment or threats to the woman's health or life.[44]: 26  In some countries, additional procedures must be followed before the abortion can be carried out even if the basic grounds for it are met. How strictly all of the procedures dictated in the legislation are followed in practice is another matter. For example, in the United Kingdom, a Care Quality Commission's report in 2012 found that several NHS clinics were circumventing the law, using forms pre-signed by one doctor, thus allowing abortions to patients who only met with one doctor.[45]

Summary tables

Legend
permitted In many cases, abortion is permitted only up to a certain gestational age.
If this limit is known and does not vary by subdivision, it is shown instead of "permitted".
permitted, with complex legality or practice
varies by subdivision
prohibited, with complex legality or practice
prohibited
unknown or unclear

Countries

The table below summarizes the legal grounds for abortion in all United Nations member states and United Nations General Assembly observer states and some countries with limited recognition. This table is mostly based on data compiled by the United Nations up to 2019,[46] with some updates, additions and clarifications citing other sources.

прерывания беременности" [On approval of standards for artificial termination of pregnancy]. Law No. 312 of 10 September 2013(in Russian). Archived from the original on 21 November 2021.</ref> || style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes"|permitted || style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes"|22 weeks || style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes"|22 weeks || style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes"|22 weeks || style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes"|22 weeks || style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes"|12 weeks

Autonomous jurisdictions

The table below summarizes the legal grounds for abortion in autonomous jurisdictions not included in the previous table.

Legal grounds on which abortion is permitted in independent countries
Country Risk to life Risk to health Rape Fetal impairment Economic or social On request
File:Flag of the Republic of Abkhazia.svg Abkhazia[47] prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of the Taliban.svg Afghanistan permitted[lower-alpha 15] prohibited prohibited prohibited[lower-alpha 15] prohibited[lower-alpha 15] prohibited
File:Flag of Albania.svg Albania[32] 22 weeks 22 weeks 22 weeks no limit 22 weeks 12 weeks
File:Flag of Algeria.svg Algeria[54] permitted permitted prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Andorra.svg Andorra prohibited[lower-alpha 16] prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Angola.svg Angola[lower-alpha 17] permitted permitted 16 weeks permitted prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg Antigua and Barbuda[59] permitted[lower-alpha 18] prohibited[lower-alpha 19] prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina[36][62] permitted permitted permitted 14 weeks permitted 14 weeks
File:Flag of Armenia.svg Armenia[63] permitted permitted permitted permitted 22 weeks 12 weeks
File:Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia [subdivisions] no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit varies[lower-alpha 20]
   File:Flag of the Australian Capital Territory.svg Australian Capital Territory[66][67] no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit
   File:Flag of Christmas Island.svg Christmas Island[lower-alpha 21] no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit 23 weeks
   File:Flag of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.svg Cocos Islands[lower-alpha 22] no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit 23 weeks
    Jervis Bay Territory[lower-alpha 23] no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit
   File:Flag of New South Wales.svg New South Wales[71] no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit 22 weeks
   File:Flag of Norfolk Island.svg Norfolk Island[lower-alpha 24] no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit
   File:Flag of the Northern Territory.svg Northern Territory[75] no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit prohibited[lower-alpha 25]
   File:Flag of Queensland.svg Queensland[76] no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit 22 weeks
   File:Flag of South Australia.svg South Australia[77] no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit 22 weeks and 6 days
   File:Flag of Tasmania.svg Tasmania[78] no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit 16 weeks
   File:Flag of Victoria (Australia).svg Victoria[79] no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit 24 weeks
   File:Flag of Western Australia.svg Western Australia[80] no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit 23 weeks
File:Flag of Austria.svg Austria[81] no limit no limit 3 months[lower-alpha 26] no limit 3 months[lower-alpha 26] 3 months[lower-alpha 26]
File:Flag of Azerbaijan.svg Azerbaijan[82] no limit no limit permitted permitted 22 weeks 12 weeks
File:Flag of the Bahamas.svg Bahamas[83] permitted permitted[lower-alpha 27] prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Bahrain.svg Bahrain permitted prohibited[lower-alpha 28] prohibited[lower-alpha 28] prohibited[lower-alpha 28] prohibited[lower-alpha 28] prohibited[lower-alpha 28]
File:Flag of Bangladesh.svg Bangladesh no limit prohibited[lower-alpha 29] prohibited[lower-alpha 29] prohibited[lower-alpha 29] prohibited[lower-alpha 29] prohibited[lower-alpha 29]
File:Flag of Barbados.svg Barbados[86] no limit no limit 12 weeks no limit 12 weeks prohibited
File:Flag of Belarus.svg Belarus[lower-alpha 30] no limit no limit 22 weeks no limit 22 weeks 12 weeks
File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium[90] no limit no limit 14 weeks[lower-alpha 31] no limit 14 weeks[lower-alpha 31] 14 weeks[lower-alpha 31]
File:Flag of Belize.svg Belize[92] no limit no limit prohibited no limit permitted prohibited
File:Flag of Benin.svg Benin[93] permitted permitted permitted permitted 12 weeks prohibited
File:Flag of Bhutan.svg Bhutan[lower-alpha 32] 180 days 180 days[lower-alpha 33] 180 days 180 days[lower-alpha 33] prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Bolivia.svg Bolivia 22 weeks 22 weeks 22 weeks 22 weeks[lower-alpha 34] prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina [subdivisions] no limit no limit permitted permitted permitted 10 weeks
    Brčko District[lower-alpha 35] no limit no limit 20 weeks 20 weeks 10 weeks 10 weeks
    Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina[lower-alpha 35] no limit no limit 20 weeks 20 weeks 10 weeks 10 weeks
   File:Flag of the Republika Srpska.svg Republika Srpska[99] no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit 10 weeks
File:Flag of Botswana.svg Botswana[100] 16 weeks 16 weeks 16 weeks 16 weeks prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil[101][102] no limit prohibited no limit prohibited[lower-alpha 36] prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Brunei.svg Brunei[105] permitted prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Bulgaria.svg Bulgaria[106] no limit 20 weeks permitted no limit 12 weeks 12 weeks
File:Flag of Burkina Faso.svg Burkina Faso[107] no limit no limit 14 weeks no limit prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Burundi.svg Burundi permitted permitted prohibited prohibited prohibited[lower-alpha 37] prohibited
File:Flag of Cambodia.svg Cambodia[109] no limit 12 weeks no limit no limit 12 weeks 12 weeks
File:Flag of Cameroon.svg Cameroon[110] permitted 28 weeks 28 weeks prohibited prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada[lower-alpha 38] no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit
File:Flag of Cape Verde.svg Cape Verde[114] no limit no limit 12 weeks permitted 12 weeks 12 weeks
File:Flag of the Central African Republic.svg Central African Republic 8 weeks prohibited[lower-alpha 39] 8 weeks 8 weeks prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Chad.svg Chad[116][117] permitted permitted permitted permitted prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Chile.svg Chile[118] no limit prohibited 12 weeks[lower-alpha 40] permitted prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China [subdivisions] permitted permitted permitted permitted varies[lower-alpha 41] varies[lower-alpha 42]
    Mainland China[119][120][lower-alpha 2] permitted permitted permitted permitted permitted permitted
   File:Flag of Hong Kong.svg Hong Kong[121] no limit 24 weeks 24 weeks 24 weeks 24 weeks prohibited
   File:Flag of Macau.svg Macau[122] no limit no limit 24 weeks 24 weeks prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia no limit[lower-alpha 43] no limit[lower-alpha 43] no limit[lower-alpha 43] no limit[lower-alpha 43] 24 weeks[lower-alpha 43] 24 weeks[lower-alpha 43]
File:Flag of the Comoros.svg Comoros[125] permitted permitted prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg Congo permitted[lower-alpha 44] prohibited[lower-alpha 44] prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Costa Rica.svg Costa Rica permitted permitted prohibited[lower-alpha 45] prohibited prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia[129] no limit no limit no limit no limit 10 weeks 10 weeks
File:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba[130][131] no limit 22 weeks no limit 35 weeks 22 weeks 12 weeks
File:Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus[132] permitted permitted 19 weeks permitted 12 weeks 12 weeks
File:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic[133][134] no limit permitted[lower-alpha 46] 12 weeks no limit 12 weeks 12 weeks
File:Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Democratic Republic of the Congo permitted[lower-alpha 47] permitted[lower-alpha 48] permitted[lower-alpha 48] permitted[lower-alpha 48] prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark[138] no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit 12 weeks[lower-alpha 49]
File:Flag of Djibouti.svg Djibouti[139][140][141] permitted permitted[lower-alpha 27] prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Dominica.svg Dominica[142] permitted prohibited[lower-alpha 50] prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Dominican Republic[144] prohibited[lower-alpha 51] prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of East Timor.svg East Timor[lower-alpha 52] no limit prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Ecuador.svg Ecuador permitted permitted permitted[lower-alpha 53] prohibited prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Egypt.svg Egypt[152][153] permitted permitted prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited
Legal grounds on which abortion is permitted in other autonomous jurisdictions
Jurisdiction Risk to life Risk to health Rape Fetal impairment Economic or social On request
 Akrotiri and Dhekelia[154] permitted permitted permitted[lower-alpha 54] permitted permitted[lower-alpha 54] prohibited
File:Flag of American Samoa.svg American Samoa[158] permitted permitted prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Anguilla.svg Anguilla[159] no limit 28 weeks prohibited 28 weeks prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Aruba.svg Aruba[160] permitted[lower-alpha 55] prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Bermuda.svg Bermuda[161] permitted permitted permitted permitted prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of the British Virgin Islands.svg British Virgin Islands[162] no limit 28 weeks prohibited 28 weeks prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of the Cayman Islands.svg Cayman Islands[163] permitted prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of the Cook Islands.svg Cook Islands[164][lower-alpha 56] permitted permitted[lower-alpha 57] prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Curaçao.svg Curaçao[168] permitted[lower-alpha 55] prohibited[lower-alpha 58] prohibited[lower-alpha 58] prohibited[lower-alpha 58] prohibited[lower-alpha 58] prohibited[lower-alpha 58]
File:Flag of the Falkland Islands.svg Falkland Islands[170] no limit no limit permitted[lower-alpha 54] no limit 24 weeks[lower-alpha 54] prohibited
File:Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg Faroe Islands[171] no limit no limit 16 weeks 16 weeks prohibited[lower-alpha 59] prohibited
File:Flag of Gibraltar.svg Gibraltar[172] no limit no limit 12 weeks[lower-alpha 60] no limit 12 weeks[lower-alpha 54] prohibited
File:Flag of Greenland.svg Greenland[174] no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit 12 weeks
File:Flag of Guam.svg Guam[175][176] no limit no limit[lower-alpha 61] 26 weeks[lower-alpha 61] 26 weeks[lower-alpha 61] 13 weeks[lower-alpha 61] 13 weeks[lower-alpha 61]
 Guernsey [subdivisions] permitted[lower-alpha 62] permitted[lower-alpha 62] varies[lower-alpha 63] varies[lower-alpha 63] varies[lower-alpha 63] prohibited
   File:Flag of Alderney.svg Alderney[179][lower-alpha 64] permitted[lower-alpha 62] permitted[lower-alpha 62] prohibited[lower-alpha 64] prohibited[lower-alpha 64] prohibited[lower-alpha 64] prohibited
   File:Flag of Guernsey.svg Guernsey[181] no limit no limit permitted[lower-alpha 54] no limit 24 weeks[lower-alpha 54] prohibited
   File:Flag of Sark.svg Sark[179] permitted[lower-alpha 62] permitted[lower-alpha 62] prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of the Isle of Man.svg Isle of Man[184] no limit no limit 23 weeks no limit 23 weeks 14 weeks
File:Flag of Jersey.svg Jersey[185] no limit no limit 12 weeks 24 weeks 12 weeks 12 weeks
File:Flag of Montserrat.svg Montserrat[186] no limit viability prohibited viability prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of Niue.svg Niue permitted[lower-alpha 65] permitted[lower-alpha 65] prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg Northern Mariana Islands[192] prohibited[lower-alpha 66] prohibited[lower-alpha 66] prohibited[lower-alpha 66] prohibited[lower-alpha 66] prohibited[lower-alpha 66] prohibited[lower-alpha 66]
File:Flag of the Pitcairn Islands.svg Pitcairn Islands[lower-alpha 67] no limit no limit permitted[lower-alpha 68] no limit 24 weeks[lower-alpha 68] prohibited
File:Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Puerto Rico[196] no limit no limit no limit[lower-alpha 69] no limit[lower-alpha 69] no limit[lower-alpha 69] prohibited[lower-alpha 69]
 Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha[lower-alpha 70] no limit no limit permitted[lower-alpha 68] no limit 24 weeks[lower-alpha 68] prohibited
File:Flag of Sint Maarten.svg Sint Maarten[201] permitted[lower-alpha 55] prohibited[lower-alpha 71] prohibited[lower-alpha 71] prohibited[lower-alpha 71] prohibited[lower-alpha 71] prohibited[lower-alpha 71]
File:Flag of Tokelau.svg Tokelau[202] permitted[lower-alpha 72] permitted[lower-alpha 72] prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of the Turks and Caicos Islands.svg Turks and Caicos Islands[204] permitted[lower-alpha 73] permitted[lower-alpha 73] prohibited prohibited prohibited prohibited
File:Flag of the United States Virgin Islands.svg United States Virgin Islands[205] no limit no limit 24 weeks 24 weeks 24 weeks 24 weeks

Comparative limits for countries with elective abortions

Legal limits may not be directly comparable. Limits may be expressed in trimesters, months, weeks of pregnancy (implantation), weeks from fertilization, or weeks from last menstrual period (LMP).

A country map of Europe color-coded for abortion access.
Color-coded map illustrating the term limits of elective abortion in Europe (in weeks from last menstrual period, fertilization or implantation)
  Illegal
  Legal but generally unavailable (Northern Ireland)
  Legal first 5 weeks (Turkmenistan)
  Legal first 10 weeks
  Legal first 11 weeks (Estonia)
  Legal first 12 weeks
  Legal first 13 weeks (3 months, Austria, Tunisia)
  Legal first 14 weeks
  Legal first 18 weeks
  Legal first 22 weeks (Iceland)
  Legal first 24 weeks
  Technically illegal, but generally available through 12 weeks (Finland)
  Technically illegal, but generally available through 24 weeks (Great Britain)
  Technically 12 weeks, but generally available through 22 weeks (ex-USSR)
  Technically 12 weeks, but generally available through 28 weeks (ex-USSR)
  Legal if the pregnancy is not from marriage; generally available under exemptions (Israel)
A state map of the United States color-coded for abortion access. A number of U.S. states in the center and especially south of the country have banned abortion apart from certain medical exceptions. In contrast, abortion is available on demand without a mandated time limit in Alaska, Colorado, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, D. C. Because the situation is changing rapidly, please see the article text for details.
Status of elective abortion in the United States
  Illegal, limited exceptions[lower-alpha 74]
  Legal, but no providers
  Legal through 12th week LMP*
  Legal through 15th week LMP* (1st trimester)
  Legal through 18th week LMP*
  Legal through 22nd week LMP* (5 months)
  Legal through 24th week LMP* (5½ months)
  Legal through second trimester[lower-alpha 77]
  Legal at any stage
*LMP is the time since the last menstrual period began.
This color-coded map illustrates the current legal status of elective-specific abortion procedures in each of the individual states, U.S. territories, and federal district.[lower-alpha 74] A colored border indicates a more stringent restriction or ban that is blocked by legal injunction.
A provincial map of the Canada color-coded for abortion access. Abortion is legal at all stages in Canada, but availability is subject to medical guidelines.
Color-coded map illustrating availability of abortion in Canada, in weeks of embryonic age (from fertilization). Abortion is legal at all stages in Canada, but availability is subject to medical guidelines.
  Available first 12 weeks (PEI)
  Available first 13 weeks
  Available first 16 weeks
  Available first 19 weeks
  Available first 20 weeks
  Available first 24 weeks
  Available first 25 weeks
A map of Australian states, color-coded for abortion access.
Color-coded map illustrating accessibility of abortion in Australia, in weeks of embryonic age (from fertilization). Beyond the limits it is legal with two doctors' approval.
  Available first 16 weeks
  Available first 22 weeks
  Available first 23 weeks
  Available first 24 weeks
  Legal at any stage if provided by medical doctor.

Countries with more restrictive laws

File:Vigilia por la votación de la Ley de Interrupción Voluntaria del Embarazo en Paraná 24.jpg
Supporter of legalized abortion at a rally in Paraná, Argentina. Argentina had restrictive laws until 2021.

According to a report by Women on Waves,[better source needed] approximately 25% of the world's population[as of?] lives in countries with "highly restrictive abortion laws"—that is, laws which either completely ban abortion, or allow it only to save the mother's life. This category includes several countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia and Oceania, as well as Andorra and Malta in Europe.[206] The Center for Reproductive Rights report that "[t]he inability to access safe and legal abortion care impacts 700 million women of reproductive age."[207] Some of the countries of Central America, notably El Salvador, have also come to international attention due to very forceful enforcement of the laws, including the incarceration of a gang-rape victim for homicide when she gave birth to a stillborn son and was accused of attempting an illegal abortion.[208][209][210] El Salvador has some of the strictest abortion laws of any country. Abortion under all circumstances, including rape, incest, and risk to the mother's health, is illegal. Women can be criminalized and penalized to up to 40 years in prison after being found guilty of an abortion. El Salvador's abortion laws are so severe that miscarriages and stillbirths can sometimes be enough for conviction. The Inter-American Court has already ruled that El Salvador was responsible for the death of Manuela, who was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2008 for aggravated homicide after suffering an obstetric emergency that resulted in her losing her pregnancy.[211][212]

Beginning of pregnancy controversy

Controversy over the beginning of pregnancy occurs in different contexts, particularly in a legal context, and is particularly discussed within the abortion debate from the point of measuring the gestational age of the pregnancy. Pregnancy can be measured from a number of convenient points, including the day of last menstruation, ovulation, fertilization, implantation and chemical detection. A common medical way to calculate gestational age is to measure pregnancy from the first day of the last menstrual cycle.[lower-alpha 78] However, not all legal systems use this measure for the purpose of abortion law; for example countries such as Belgium, France, and Luxembourg use the term "pregnancy" in the abortion law to refer to the time elapsed from the sexual act that led to conception, which is presumed to be 2 weeks after the end of the last menstrual period.[lower-alpha 79]

Exceptions in abortion law

Exceptions in abortion laws occur either in countries where abortion is as a general rule illegal or in countries that have abortion on request with gestational limits. For example, if a country allows abortion on request until 12 weeks, it may create exceptions to this general gestation limit for later abortions in specific circumstances.[219] There are a few exceptions commonly found in abortion laws. Legal domains which do not have abortion on demand will often allow it when the health of the mother is at stake. "Health of the mother" may mean something different in different areas: for example, prior to December 2018, Ireland allowed abortion only to save the mother's life, whereas abortion opponents in the United States argue health exceptions are used so broadly as to render a ban essentially meaningless.[220] Laws allowing abortion in cases of rape or incest often differ. For example, before Roe v. Wade, thirteen U.S. states allowed abortion in the case of either rape or incest, but only Mississippi permitted abortion of pregnancies due to rape, and no state permitted it for just incest.[221] Many[vague] countries allow abortion only through the first or second trimester, and some may allow abortion in cases of fetal defects, e.g., Down syndrome, or where the pregnancy is the result of a sexual crime.

Other related laws

Laws in some countries with liberal abortion laws protect access to abortion services. Such legislation often seeks to guard abortion clinics against obstruction, vandalism, picketing, and other actions, or to protect patients and employees of such facilities from threats and harassment. Other laws create a perimeter around a facility, known variously as a "buffer zone", "bubble zone", or "access zone", where demonstrations opposing abortion are not permitted. Protests and other displays are restricted to a certain distance from the building, which varies depending on the law. Similar zones have also been created to protect the homes of abortion providers and clinic staff. Bubble zone laws are divided into "fixed" and "floating" categories. Fixed bubble zone laws apply to the static area around the facility itself, and floating laws to objects in transit, such as people or cars.[222] Because of conflicts between anti-abortion activists on one side and women seeking abortion and medical staff who provides abortion on the other side, some laws are quite strict: in South Africa for instance, any person who prevents the lawful termination of a pregnancy or obstructs access to a facility for the termination of a pregnancy faces up to 10 years in prison (section 10.1 (c) of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act[223]). On 3 November 2020, an association of 20 Kenyan charities urged the government of Kenya to withdraw from the Geneva Consensus Declaration (GCD), a US-led international accord that sought to limit access to abortion for girls and women around the world. GCD was signed by 33 nations, on 22 October 2020.[224]

Judicial decisions

Year Jurisdiction Description Abortion access affirmed or expanded?
1879 File:Canadian Red Ensign (1868–1921).svg Canada Abortion trial of Emily Stowe
1938 File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Rex v Bourne
Abortion in case of risk to physical or mental health included in risk to life. The decision was also implemented by some British territories and their successors.[180]
Yes
1952 File:Canadian Red Ensign (1921–1957).svg Canada Azoulay v R[225]
1969 File:Flag of Victoria (Australia).svg Victoria (Australia) R v Davidson[lower-alpha 80]
Abortion allowed in case of risk to life, and physical or mental health.[226]
Yes
1971 File:Flag of the United States.svg United States United States v. Vuitch Restrictions upheld
File:Flag of New South Wales.svg New South Wales (Australia) R v Wald
Abortion in case of socioeconomic reasons included in risk to physical or mental health.
Yes
1973 File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Doe v. Bolton
Abortion allowed after viability if necessary to protect her health.
Roe v. Wade
Abortion allowed on demand in the entire country.
1975 File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany German Federal Constitutional Court abortion decision Law restricted
1976 File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Morgentaler v R Restrictions upheld
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Planned Parenthood v. Danforth Legalization upheld
1979 Maher v. Roe
Colautti v. Franklin
1980 File:Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Puerto Rico Pueblo v. Duarte
Application of Roe v. Wade to Puerto Rico.[196]
Yes
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Harris v. McRae
1981 H. L. v. Matheson Restrictions upheld
File:Flag of Israel.svg Israel A. v. B.
Paternal consent not required.
Yes
1983 File:Flag of the United States.svg United States City of Akron v. Akron Center for Reproductive Health
1986 Thornburgh v. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
1988 File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada R v Morgentaler Yes
1989 Borowski v Canada (AG)
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Webster v. Reproductive Health Services Restrictions upheld
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Tremblay v Daigle Yes
1990 File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Hodgson v. Minnesota
1991 Rust v. Sullivan
1992 File:Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland Attorney General v X
Abortion allowed in case of risk to life, including risk of suicide.
Yes
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Planned Parenthood v. Casey
1993 Bray v. Alexandria Women's Health Clinic
File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany 2 BvF 2/90[227]
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada R v Morgentaler Yes
1995 File:Flag of New South Wales.svg New South Wales (Australia) CES v. Superclinics
Physical or mental health should be considered not only during the pregnancy but also after the birth.
1997 File:Flag of Poland.svg Poland K 26/96
Abortion for economic or social reasons ruled unconstitutional.[228]
Law restricted
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Thornburgh v. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
1998 File:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa Christian Lawyers Association v Minister of Health
Law allowing abortion on demand ruled constitutional.
Legalization upheld
2000 File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Hill v. Colorado
Stenberg v. Carhart
Supreme Court struck down Nebraska's partial-birth abortion ban.
Yes
2001 File:Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina T., S. v. Government of Buenos Aires City[229]
2003 File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Scheidler v. National Organization for Women
2006 Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England
Scheidler v. National Organization for Women
Gonzales v. Carhart
Supreme Court upheld the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003.
Restrictions upheld
File:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia Constitutional Court allowed abortion in case of danger to woman's life or health, rape, and fetal deformation.[124] Yes
File:Flag of Europe.svg Council of Europe D v Ireland
File:Flag of New South Wales.svg New South Wales (Australia) R v Sood[230]
2007 File:Flag of Europe.svg Council of Europe Tysiąc v Poland[231]
File:Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia Constitutional Court ruled law allowing abortion on demand constitutional.[232] Legalization upheld
2008 File:Flag of Nepal.svg Nepal Achyut Kharel v. Government of Nepal [233]
2009 File:Flag of Europe.svg Council of Europe A, B and C v Ireland
The court rejected the argument that article 8 conferred a right to abortion, but found that Ireland had violated the European Convention on Human Rights by failing to provide an accessible and effective procedure by which a woman can have established whether she qualifies for a legal abortion.
Yes
File:Flag of Nepal.svg Nepal Lakshmi v. Government of Nepal
Supreme Court upheld and expanded legal abortion.[234]
2011 File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom British Pregnancy Advisory Service v Secretary of State for Health[235]
2012 File:Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina F., A. L.
Abortion allowed in case of rape of any woman, regardless of her mental health.[236]
Yes
File:Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil ADPF 54
Abortion allowed in case of anencephaly.[237]
File:Flag of Europe.svg Council of Europe P. and S. v. Poland[238]
2013 File:Flag of El Salvador.svg El Salvador Case of "Beatriz"[239]
2014 File:Flag of Bolivia.svg Bolivia Ruling 0206/2014[240]
File:Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland P.P. v. Health Service Executive
2015 File:Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Dominican Republic Constitutional Court ruled law allowing abortion in certain cases unconstitutional.[241] Law restricted
File:Flag of Rwanda.svg Rwanda RPA 0787/15/HC/KIG[242]
2016 File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt Yes
File:Flag of the United Nations.svg United Nations Mellet v Ireland
2017 File:Flag of Chile.svg Chile Constitutional Court ruled law allowing abortion in certain cases constitutional.[118] Yes
File:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia Constitutional Court ruled law allowing abortion on demand constitutional.[243] Legalization upheld
2018 File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission v Department of Justice[244]
2019 File:Flag of South Korea.svg South Korea Abortion allowed on request. Decision took effect in 2021.[245] Yes
File:Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia Clubb v Edwards
File:Flag of Kenya.svg Kenya FIDA-Kenya and Others v. Attorney General and Others
Abortion allowed in case of rape.[246]
Yes
2020 File:Flag of Poland.svg Poland K 1/20
Abortion in case of fetal deformity ruled unconstitutional. The decision was implemented on 27 January 2021.[247]
Law restricted
File:Flag of Thailand.svg Thailand Ruling No. 4/2563[248]
File:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia Constitutional Court ruled law allowing abortion in certain cases constitutional rejecting both total ban and legalization.[249] Law upheld
2021 File:Flag of Ecuador.svg Ecuador Abortion allowed in case of rape of any woman, regardless of her mental health.[151] Yes
File:Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico Deadlines in case of pregnancy after rape ruled unconstitutional.[250][251]
Penalties for abortion ruled unconstitutional.[41][42]
[252]
[253][254]
 Inter-American Court of Human Rights Manuela and Others v. El Salvador[255]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States United States v. Texas Restrictions upheld
Whole Woman's Health v. Jackson
2022 File:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia Constitutional Court decriminalized abortion up to 24 weeks of gestation.[40] Yes
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization

States may now ban or restrict abortion before viability, Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey overturned.

Law restricted
File:Flag of India.svg India Abortion allowed under the same criteria regardless of marital status.[256] Yes
2023 File:Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico Abortion allowed at federal health facilities anywhere in the country.[257][258] Yes

See also

Notes

  1. Mainland China.
  2. Jump up to: 2.0 2.1 In 2021, the Chinese government issued guidelines reducing "non-medically necessary" abortions as a "step toward women's development".[17] The guidelines do not provide detail on what a "non-medically necessary" abortion is, nor what specific policies the government has planned to achieve this goal.[18][19]
  3. The law from 1957 legalizing the abortion on request was limited in 1962 when additional approval for each abortion had to be obtained from so called Abort Commission (which rejected about 15% of the requests). The Abort Commissions were abolished by law in 1986. Until 1993 each approved abortion was paid by state.[20][21]
  4. In some parts of Overseas France, abortion on request became legal in 2001.[23][24][25]
  5. Year when all subnational jurisdictions legalized abortion on request.
  6. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named no
  7. The law legalizing abortion on request was approved in 1978 and came into force in 1979.[26]
  8. In the Caribbean Netherlands, abortion on request became legal in 2011.[27][28]
  9. After explicit legalization struck down by supreme court decision, the law only removes punishment for abortion on request but with no statement about its legality.
  10. The law legalizing abortion on request was approved in 1995 and came into force in 1996.[32]
  11. The law legalizing abortion on request was approved in 2014 and came into force in 2015.[34]
  12. The law legalizing abortion on request was approved in 2018 and came into force in 2019.[35]
  13. The law legalizing abortion on request was approved in 2020 and came into force in 2021.[36]
  14. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named fi
  15. Jump up to: 15.0 15.1 15.2 The law of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan consisted primarily of statutory law and a limited use of Islamic jurisprudence.[48] The Afghan penal code criminalized abortion and only removed the penalty if the abortion was prescribed by a doctor to save the woman's life,[49][50] but other sources said that Afghanistan also allowed abortion in case of fetal impairment,[51] and rarely for economic reasons if accepted by a religious council.[52] After the 2021 Taliban offensive, the new government announced its intention to implement Islamic law exclusively, and it is unclear which legal grounds for abortion it accepts.[53]
  16. The UN source says that this ground is not explicitly mentioned in the law but it is accepted as a general legal principle.[55] However, other sources say that abortion is not legally allowed under any circumstance in Andorra.[56]
  17. The UN source incorrectly shows Angola as allowing abortion on request, citing a penal code draft from 2014 that did not become law.[57] The version of the penal code enacted in 2020 and entered into force in 2021 allows abortion only in certain circumstances.[58]
  18. A 2001 UN source says that abortion must be performed within the first 16 weeks and that it may be permitted after this period under very exceptional circumstances.[60]
  19. Before independence, a judicial decision in the parent country allowed abortion for this ground, but the decision has not been explicitly recognized by Antigua and Barbuda.[60][61]: 14 
  20. Abortion for this ground is permitted in all subdivisions except the Northern Territory.[64][65]
  21. Applies the laws of Western Australia.[68]
  22. Applies the laws of Western Australia.[69]
  23. Applies the laws of the Australian Capital Territory.[70]
  24. Most laws of New South Wales and Queensland, including their abortion laws, are set to apply to Norfolk Island after 2026.[72][73] The Criminal Code of Norfolk Island, which remains in force in the territory, does not prohibit abortion.[74]
  25. Abortion up to 24 weeks may be performed if the medical practitioner considers the abortion is appropriate in all the circumstances, having regard to all relevant medical circumstances, the woman's current and future physical, psychological and social circumstances, and professional standards and guidelines. Later abortion may be performed, if two medical practitioners consider the abortion is appropriate in all the circumstances, having regard to the mentioned matters.[75] These criteria are not considered as allowing abortion on request.[64][65]
  26. Jump up to: 26.0 26.1 26.2 If the woman was under age 14 when getting pregnant, no limit is specified.
  27. Jump up to: 27.0 27.1 The penal code says that abortion is permitted for therapeutic purposes but is unclear whether it means only to save the woman's life or also to preserve her health. The UN source marks it as a permitted ground.
  28. Jump up to: 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 The UN source marks it as a legal ground because the Penal Code explicitly prohibits abortion only if performed without the consent of the woman and of a medical practitioner.[84] However, the decree regulating medical practice prohibits abortion unless the pregnancy threatens the woman's life.[85]
  29. Jump up to: 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 The UN source does not explicitly mark this legal ground for abortion but says that "Menstrual regulation is available on request for women with a last menstrual period of 10 weeks or less."[46]
  30. The law permits abortion for medical reasons without gestational limit, for social reasons up to 22 weeks of gestation, and on request up to 12 weeks of gestation.[87] By regulation, fetal impairment is included as a medical reason,[88] and rape is included as a social reason.[89]
  31. Jump up to: 31.0 31.1 31.2 Defined as 12 weeks from conception, considered as 14 weeks from the last menstrual period.[91]
  32. The penal code prohibits abortion except to save the woman's life, when the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest, or when the woman is of unsound mental condition.[94] Guidelines for health workers mention grounds of risk to the woman's health and fetal impairment, and define a gestational limit of 180 days.[95]
  33. Jump up to: 33.0 33.1 This ground is only cited in guidelines for health workers, not by law.[94][95]
  34. This ground is established by a regulation implementing a judicial decision, although it is not mentioned in the decision itself or in the law.[96]
  35. Jump up to: 35.0 35.1 Continues to apply the abortion law of the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.[97][98]
  36. The penal code criminalizes abortion except if done to save the woman's life or if the pregnancy is the result of rape.[101] Due to a decision by the Supreme Federal Court, abortion is also permitted in case of anencephaly, and it may also be authorized by court order in other fatal cases of fetal impairment.[102][103][104]
  37. The penal code says that social demands are taken into account in a conviction for abortion.[108] It is unclear if this circumstance reduces the penalty or may remove it.
  38. There is no abortion law in Canada, but medical guidelines of its subdivisions and individual providers may limit the abortion services that they offer depending on gestational age and medical reasons.[111][112][113]
  39. The penal code says that abortion may be permitted to an underage woman in a state of grave distress up to 8 weeks.[115]
  40. If the woman is under age 14, the gestational limit is 14 weeks.
  41. Abortion for this ground is permitted in mainland China and Hong Kong, but not in Macau.
  42. Abortion for this ground is permitted in mainland China, but not in Hong Kong or Macau.
  43. Jump up to: 43.0 43.1 43.2 43.3 43.4 43.5 This ground is not explicitly mentioned in the law but it is established by judicial decision.[123][124][40]
  44. Jump up to: 44.0 44.1 This ground is not explicitly mentioned in the law.[126] The Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which is declared to be an integral part of the constitution, says that "Abortion, other than therapeutic, is prohibited and punishable by law."[127] It is unclear whether the therapeutic ground means only to save the woman's life or also to preserve her health. The UN source says that only the ground to save the woman's life is accepted as a general legal principle.[44]
  45. A judicial pardon may be granted to the woman for an abortion on this ground.[128]
  46. In some cases, the gestational limit is 12 or 24 weeks.
  47. This ground is not explicitly mentioned in the law but it is accepted as a general legal principle, allowed by regulation and established by treaty.[135][136]
  48. Jump up to: 48.0 48.1 48.2 This ground is not explicitly mentioned in the law but it is established by treaty, whose application is requested by the Constitutional Court.[135][137]
  49. If the woman is of young age or immature and so unable to care for the child in a proper way, no limit is specified.
  50. Before independence, a judicial decision in the parent country allowed abortion for this ground, but the decision has not been explicitly recognized by Dominica.[143]
  51. The UN source says that this ground is not explicitly mentioned in the law but it is accepted as a general legal principle. However, other sources say that abortion is not legally allowed under any circumstance in the Dominican Republic.[145][146]
  52. The UN source shows East Timor as allowing abortion also in case of risk to the woman's health or fetal impairment, citing the penal code enacted in March 2009 and entered into force in June 2009.[147][148] However, the penal code was amended in July 2009 to restrict abortion only to save the woman's life.[149][148][150]
  53. This ground is explicitly mentioned in the law only in case of rape of a woman with a mental disability, but it is also established by judicial decision in case of rape of any woman.[151]
  54. Jump up to: 54.0 54.1 54.2 54.3 54.4 54.5 54.6 This ground is not explicitly mentioned in the law, but the identical text in the law of the parent country is considered to include this ground in a ground for preserving physical or mental health.[155][156][157]
  55. Jump up to: 55.0 55.1 55.2 This ground is not explicitly mentioned in the law but it is accepted as a general legal principle.[61]
  56. The parliament has proposed a law allowing abortion also in case of risk to health, rape and fetal impairment,[165] but it has not yet been approved.[166]
  57. This ground is not explicitly mentioned in the law, but it is established by a judicial decision in the parent country. A UN source states this it in unclear whether this judicial precedent also applies to the Cook Islands, but it lists this ground as permitted there.[167]
  58. Jump up to: 58.0 58.1 58.2 58.3 58.4 Although illegal, the government does not prosecute abortions performed under rules similar to other countries, including on request.[169]
  59. Permitted up to 16 weeks of gestation if medical circumstances make the woman unfit to care for her child.[171]
  60. This ground is not explicitly mentioned in the law but it is considered to be included in the ground for preserving physical or mental health.[172][173]
  61. Jump up to: 61.0 61.1 61.2 61.3 61.4 Although the law permits abortions on request, no medical providers in the territory perform them except to save the woman's life.[177][178]
  62. Jump up to: 62.0 62.1 62.2 62.3 62.4 62.5 In Alderney and Sark, this ground is not explicitly mentioned in the law.[179] A judicial decision on an identical law in the parent country clarified that the law always implicitly allowed abortion at least to save the woman's life, and the decision allowed it also to preserve her health.[180] It is unclear whether Alderney and Sark apply only the original legal principle or also the judicial decision.
  63. Jump up to: 63.0 63.1 63.2 Abortion for this ground is permitted in the jurisdiction of Guernsey, but not in Alderney or Sark.[179][181]
  64. Jump up to: 64.0 64.1 64.2 64.3 Although not allowed by Alderney law, abortions are provided in Alderney under the same conditions as in Guernsey, as health services in Alderney operate under Guernsey law.[182] To resolve the legal contradiction, in 2022 the States of Alderney passed an abortion law identical to the one in Guernsey, and it awaits a regulation to establish the effective date.[183]
  65. Jump up to: 65.0 65.1 A law enacted by New Zealand for Niue in 1966 prohibited abortion done "unlawfully", without defining it,[187] but a judicial decision applicable in New Zealand allowed abortion in case of risk to the woman's life or health, and a UN source states this judicial precedent probably applies to Niue as well.[188] In 2007, New Zealand repealed the sections of law that prohibited abortion in Niue,[189] but they remain in force in Niue[190] as legislation enacted by New Zealand after 1974 does not apply to Niue without its consent.[191]
  66. Jump up to: 66.0 66.1 66.2 66.3 66.4 66.5 The territory's constitution prohibits abortion "except as provided by law", and the territory has no law about the subject.[192] A law from the predecessor of the territory prohibited abortion done "unlawfully" without defining it, and although predecessor laws remain in force in the territory unless modified, a judicial decision ruled this abortion law invalid for being too vague.[193] As a result, although abortion remains prohibited in principle by the constitution, abortion providers cannot be prosecuted for it as there is no law specifying a penalty. Still, in practice, authorized medical providers in the territory perform abortions only to save the woman's life and possibly in case of rape.[194] In 1995, an opinion issued by the territory's attorney general concluded that U.S. judicial decisions allowing abortion on request also applied to the territory, but these decisions were overturned in 2022.[192]
  67. Applies English law in force in 2010 unless locally modified.[195]
  68. Jump up to: 68.0 68.1 68.2 68.3 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named gb
  69. Jump up to: 69.0 69.1 69.2 69.3 The penal code prohibits abortion except in case of risk to the woman's life or health.[196] In 1980, a decision by the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico expanded the health criteria to also include mental health, including emotional, psychological, family and age aspects, with no gestational limit. However, the decision still maintained the prohibition on abortion if done without any therapeutic consideration.[197][198]
  70. Applies English law in force on 1 January 2006 unless locally modified, in each part of the territory.[199] Tristan da Cunha explicitly applies the abortion law of the United Kingdom with minor modifications.[200]
  71. Jump up to: 71.0 71.1 71.2 71.3 71.4 Although illegal, the government does not prosecute abortions performed under rules similar to other countries, including on request.[61]
  72. Jump up to: 72.0 72.1 This ground is not explicitly mentioned in the law. The judicial handbook says that abortion is permitted for medical reasons but is unclear whether it means only to save the woman's life or also to preserve her health.[203]
  73. Jump up to: 73.0 73.1 This ground is not explicitly mentioned in the law. A judicial decision on an identical law in the parent country clarified that the law always implicitly allowed abortion at least to save the woman's life, and the decision allowed it also to preserve her health.[180] It is unclear whether the territory applies only the original legal principle or also the judicial decision.
  74. Jump up to: 74.0 74.1 All states allow abortion to prevent the woman's imminent death, and some if the pregnancy is a less-immediate threat to their life.
    • Additional allowance for risk to the woman's physical health: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
    • Allowance for risk to the woman's general health: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington.
    • Allowance for pregnancy due to rape or incest: Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Carolina, West Virginia, Utah, and Wyoming.
    • Allowance for lethal fetal abnormality: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, South Carolina, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Utah.
    Note that these allowances may have a time limit, which may be as early as cardiac-cell activity (approximately 6 weeks LMP); others may have no limit. Different allowances may have different limits in the same state.
  75. Cardiac-cell activity is generally detectable in the 6th week LMP.
    Allowance beyond this limit is made, at minimum, for an immediate threat to the woman's life. In general, states that permit limited elective abortion may allow abortion beyond that limit for some or all of the reasons listed above.
  76. Typically, fetal viability begins in the 23rd or 24th week LMP.
  77. The second trimester is variously defined as through 27th or 28th week LMP. In Massachusetts, the law allows elective abortion up to 24 weeks from implantation, which is approx. 27 weeks LMP.
  78. Some examples of gestational age calculated from the first day of the last menstrual cycle:[213][214][215][216][217][excessive citations]
  79. For example Luxembourg abortion law states: "Avant la fin de la 12e semaine de grossesse ou avant la fin de la 14e semaine d'aménorrhée ...", which translates to "Before the end of the 12th week of pregnancy or before the end of the 14th week of amenorrhea".[218]
  80. Also known as the "Menhennitt ruling".

References

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