Induced abortions

The number of induced abortions continued to rise

In 2025, nearly 9,100 induced abortions were performed, corresponding to 7.6 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age (15–49 years). This represents an increase of 3.8 per cent compared with the previous year.

According to data collection forms submitted to the THL’s Register of Induced Abortions, the number of abortions also rose slightly in 2022–2023.

“The continued increase in the number of induced abortions over several years is a concerning development. During the 2010s, the number of abortions in Finland declined for a long period. Although the recent increase remains moderate, the situation has clearly changed,” says chief specialist Anna Heino.

The overall decline in induced abortions during the 2000s was primarily attributable to a decrease in abortions among women under the age of 20. In recent years, however, the number of abortions among young women has remained stable (5.9 abortions per 1,000 women of the same age).

In 2025, the highest abortion rates were registered among women aged 20–24 (12.7 per 1,000 women of the same age) and 25–29 (12.2 per 1,000 women of the same age).

Induced abortions per 1000 women of same age 2000-2025
Year	Under 20 year-olds	All age groups
2000	14,8	9,0
2001	15,4	8,9
2002	16,3	9,2
2003	15,3	9,0
2004	15,8	9,4
2005	15,0	9,3
2006	14,2	9,1
2007	13,5	9,0
2008	12,8	8,9
2009	12,9	9,0
2010	12,2	8,8
2011	12,7	9,2
2012	11,0	8,8
2013	10,5	8,7
2014	9,2	8,5
2015	8,5	8,3
2016	7,9	8,3
2017	7,5	8,2
2018	6,4	7,6
2019	6,5	7,7
2020	6,4	7,3
2021	5,9	6,8
2022	5,7	7,0
2023	5,9	7,2
2024	6,0	7,4
2025	5,9	7,6

Proportion of repeat abortions continues to increase

More than one in three (36%) induced abortions were performed for individuals who had undergone at least one previous abortion. A total of 20.5 per cent had one prior abortion, and 15.4 per cent had two or more.

In 2025, 9.6 per cent of those who terminated a pregnancy had had a previous pregnancy ending in induced abortion within the preceding two years.

“The proportion of individuals whose previous pregnancy ended in induced abortion during the same or the previous year has clearly increased in recent years. These individuals have recently been in contact with healthcare services, yet for some reason effective contraception has not been successfully established,” notes chief specialist Anna Heino.

Induced abortions where the previous pregnancy ended the same or the previous year, %, 2000–2025
Year	Previous induced abortion in the same year or the year before the induced abortion	Previous delivery in the same year or the year before the induced abortion
2000	5,2	11,5
2001	5,6	11,7
2002	6,7	11,1
2003	7,0	10,8
2004	7,1	11,3
2005	7,0	11,4
2006	8,1	11,4
2007	8,4	10,7
2008	8,3	10,8
2009	8,8	11,1
2010	8,4	11,6
2011	8,2	11,3
2012	8,4	11,5
2013	7,8	10,7
2014	8,1	10,5
2015	8,1	10,4
2016	8,2	10,2
2017	7,6	9,8
2018	8,4	9,7
2019	7,7	9,2
2020	7,9	9,5
2021	8,1	9,4
2022	7,6	9,9
2023	8,2	9,2
2024	9,5	9,1
2025	9,6	8,3

About the data in more detail

Database reports

Background information

Source

Induced abortions 2025
Statistical Report 8/2026, 11.5.2026.
Official Statistics of Finland, Induced Abortions. THL.

Description of the statistics

The abortion statistics contain data on legally performed abortions. The statistics include trend data from 1975 onwards.

The Register on Induced abortions contains data on issues such as previous pregnancy outcomes, contraceptive method used at the start of pregnancy, duration of the pregnancy, the grounds for abortion, the abortion method used, the planned contraceptive method after the procedure, and possible complications within a month of the abortion.