Is Abortion Legal?
- Abortions are legal for 60% of the world’s population. Five percent of women of reproductive age live in regions where abortion is prohibited altogether; 22% of women live in areas where abortion is only permitted to save the woman’s life.
- Abortion regulations usually allow for abortions under certain stipulations, including staying within gestational limits or qualifying for an exception.
- 25% of the global population lives in countries where abortion is penalized if performed outside of the legal parameters.
- Due to the constantly shifting political landscape, abortion laws are subject to frequent alterations. While we aim to keep our site up to date, some information may have changed.
⚖️ Wondering whether to have an abortion or not? Take the Abortion Test!
When Is Abortion Legal? - Abortion Parameters
Governments which do not ban abortion set legal parameters under which it is permitted.
1. Indicators
Most legislators list indicators which allow for abortion within specific gestational limits. These may include socio-economic reasons, the mother’s health, fetal defects, conception through rape or incest, or to save the life of mother.
- For more information, go to Until When Can I Get an Abortion.
- For gestational limits of late-term abortions by indicators, go to Late-Term Abortion.
2. Specialized Training
Abortion laws often specify who is permitted to perform abortions. In most countries, abortions must be performed by medical staff. In many of these countries, abortions may only be performed by medical doctors.
- For more information, go to Abortion Near Me.
3. Location
Internationally, home abortions are more heavily restricted than in-clinic abortions. DIY abortions are often completely banned, and the use of the abortion pill is strictly regulated.
- For more information on these topics, go to DIY Abortions, The Abortion Pill, and Tele-Abortions.
4. Consent/Anonymous
Most abortions can stay anonymous. No one has to know. Legal exceptions in some regions may include parental consent for minors or spousal consent for married couples.
- For more information, go to Abortion Under 18: Do I Have to Tell My Parents?
Some countries have specific laws on how medical records on abortions are handled. Usually, abortions are only added to a woman’s medical records, upon her request.
- For more information, go to Anonymous Abortion.
Some regions require an informed consent by the woman. Advice given during this mandated counseling session may include information about the abortion procedure, fetal development, and abortion alternatives. A waiting period of 1 to 5 days may be required after the counsel was received.
- For more information, go to Abortion Counseling Requirements.
Abortion coercion is a criminal offense in most countries. This means that forcing someone to have an abortion is punishable by law.
- For more information, go to Abortion Coercion.
5. Medical Requirements
A blood test or an ultrasound may be required by law before precuring an abortion. These laws are in place to protect the health of the woman. The ultrasound reveals gestational age and a possible ectopic pregnancy. Both need to be ascertained before it is safe for the woman to proceed.
Why Have Abortion Parameters?
Legal parameters for abortions are usually given with the wellbeing of the woman in mind. The risk of a late-term abortion is weighed against the trauma of the abortion indicator. Therefore, socioeconomic reasons as well as general health concerns are commonly accepted as abortion indicators in early pregnancy only. Conversely, saving the life of the mother usually trumps all late term abortion restrictions.
You may be considering abortion for one of the reasons listed above. Perhaps you are not done with school, are in an unstable relationship, or are in a financially difficult situation. Your lived experience is more than an indicator. You may be feeling pressure, fear, or disbelief.
You are not alone! We would love to walk alongside you as you navigate this time of uncertainty. Take advantage of our judgement-free resources in order to find the path that is just right for you:
- ⚖️ “Abortion: Yes or no?” Take the Abortion Test
- ⛑ Where do I go from here? Take the First Aid Test
- 💡 Struggling with a specific decision? Take the Solutions Finder Test
Can I Get Punished for an Abortion?
Decriminalized Abortion
Decriminalizing abortion means not punishing the act of abortion, regardless of its legal status. Abortion outside of the legal parameters is considered a crime in many countries, punishable by fines, removal of licensure, or imprisonment. Both the woman procuring the abortion and the abortion provider may incriminate themselves through the act.
Find your country below to know if there are penalties for the woman or abortion provider in cases of abortion outside of legal parameters:
|
South Africa |
No known cases. |
|
Cambodia
|
|
|
Thailand |
|
|
Australian Capital Territory |
None |
|
New South Wales |
None |
|
Northern Territory |
None |
|
Queensland |
|
|
South Australia |
None |
|
Tasmania |
None |
|
Victoria |
None |
|
Western Australia |
|
|
New Zealand |
|
|
Austria |
|
|
Germany |
|
|
Great Britain |
|
|
Italy |
|
|
Portugal |
|
|
Republic of Ireland |
|
|
The Netherlands |
|
|
Northern Ireland |
|
|
Switzerland |
|
Canada |
None |
|
Mexico |
None |
|
USA |
Where Do I Go From Here?
Your web search has provided you with some helpful information on abortion regulations. Perhaps you find yourselves at a crossroads right now. Your questions go beyond legalities. You might be wondering whether to have an abortion or not. No one can make this decision for you. As you consider which path to take, feel free to make use of our judgement-free resources.
- What are your pros and cons? Take the Abortion Pros & Cons Test!
- 💪 Do you have what it takes? Take the Strengths Finder Test
You may also like:
- Unsure About Abortion
- How Do I Make a Good Decision?
- 💰 Wondering how much an abortion would cost you? Find out the price for an abortion in your area here.
Disclaimer: Due to the constantly shifting political landscape, abortion laws are subject to frequent changes. While profemina aims to provide you with up-to-date information, we cannot guarantee the veracity of the data provided in this article.
Sources:
- abort73.com
- www.who.int
- www.guttmacher.org/
- www.gov.za (South Africa)
- laterabortion.org (South Africa)
- www.un.org (UN States)
- www.bbc.com (BBC for GB)
- www.legislation.gov.uk (GB)
- www.aljazeera.com (Thailand)
- www.nytimes.com (Thailand)
- www.loc.gov
- www.nytimes.com (Thailand)
- www.health.govt.nz
- www.legislation.govt.nz (New Zealand)
- www.ifpa.ie
- journals.sagepub.com
- www.irishstatutebook.ie (Republic of Ireland)
- www.amnesty.org (US)
- www.loc.gov
- www.loc.gov
- rm.coe.int (Netherlands)
- nationalpost.com (Canada)
- www.npr.org (Mexico)
- pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (Cambodia)
- www.hrlc.org.au
- classic.austlii.edu.au(Australia)
- www.legislation.gov.uk (Northern Ireland)