The number of abortions is decreasing in the Nordic countries – Finland’s abortion rate still lowest

In 2021, a total of 53,000 abortions were performed in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Iceland, representing 11.5 abortions per one thousand fertility-aged (aged 15–49) women. The lowest number of abortions was recorded in Finland (6.7/1,000 women of similar age) and the highest in Sweden (15.1/1,000). Corresponding data from Denmark are not available for the period 2019‒2021. 

In recent years, the number of abortions has decreased in all Nordic countries. There has also been a decline in the number of abortions performed on young people.

“Compared to many other European countries, abortion rates are relatively low in the Nordic countries, with the exception of Sweden. However, some Western European countries, such as Germany, have an even lower number of abortions than Finland despite more permissive legislation, so the legislation alone does not affect the number of abortions,” says Anna Heino, Senior Specialist at THL.

A more liberal abortion law in Iceland did not increase the number of abortions

Iceland's revised The Act on Induced Abortion entered into force in September 2019. According to the new Act, in Iceland, any woman who so requests has the right to have her pregnancy terminated up to the end of the 22nd week of pregnancy. The new, more liberal legislation did not result in an increase in abortion rates in Iceland.

Finland continues to have the strictest abortion legislation of all the Nordic countries. However, Finland’s Abortion Act will be subject to reform as of 1 September 2023, after which abortion will be possible until the end of the 12th week of pregnancy at the woman’s personal request.

“While we cannot predict the future, based on experiences gathered from other countries, we believe that reforming the Finnish legislation will not significantly increase the number of abortions. The current legislation also enables abortions based on widely interpreted social reasons. The new legislation will improve women’s right of self-determination and reduces the burden that the process causes on health care,” says Heino.

Read more about abortions in the Nordic countries 

Further information

Anna Heino
Senior Planning Officer
tel. +358 29 524 7177
[email protected]

Mika Gissler
Research Professor
tel. +358 29 524 7279
[email protected]