Induced abortions in the Nordic countries 2021

The number of induced abortions is declining in the Nordic countries

53 000 induced abortions were performed in Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland in 2021, that is, 11.5 abortions per thousand women of childbearing age (15–49 years). Finland had the lowest and Sweden the highest abortion rate; there were 6.7 induced abortions per thousand women aged 15–49 years in Finland, while the corresponding figure for Sweden was 15.1. For Denmark, data for 2019‒2021 are not available. In 2018, there were approximately 14 300 induced abortions in Denmark (11.4/1000 women aged 15‒49).

In the 2000s abortions among the under-20s have decreased in all Nordic countries. In 2021, abortion rates among the under-20s in Norway and Finland were lower than in Sweden and Iceland in 2021.

Though the total number of induced abortions is still slightly higher than in early 2000’s, the number has decreased in recent years and is currently considerably below the level of the 1970s and 1980s. Back then, between 85 000 and 100 000 induced abortions were performed in the Nordic region each year.

In Iceland, new legislation came into effect in September 2019 . According to the new legislation, an induced abortion is available on request until the 22nd weeks of gestation. A more liberal legislation did not cause an increase in the number of abortions in Iceland.

In Finland, legislation on induced abortion is the strictest of the Nordic countries. New legislation will come into effect on 1st September 2023. According to the new legislation, an induced abortion is available on request until the 12th weeks of gestation.

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The number of induced abortions has declined in the Nordic countries. — Induced abortions per 1000 women in fertile age (aged 15–49), 1970–2021

Tables

Background information

Description of statistics

The statistics contain data on induced abortions in the Nordic countries. Key indicators include number of induced abortions, number of induced abortions as a proportion of the number of women of fertile age, gestational age and proportion of drug-induced abortions. All data is presented by country.

The statistics are published every other year. The next statistics will be published in spring 2025, and the report will contain data up to 2023.

THL answers for the data collection and reporting. The presented figures have been submitted by contact persons in the countries or retrieved from the websites for registers of induced abortions.