Induced abortions in the Nordic countries 2023

The number of abortions increased slightly in the Nordic countries

Some 73 000 induced abortions were performed in the Nordic countries in 2023, that is, 12.1 abortions per thousand women of childbearing age (15–49 years). Finland had the lowest abortion rate (7.1 per thousand women aged 15–49 years) and Sweden the highest (15.8).

In the 2000s abortions among the under-20s have decreased in all Nordic countries. In 2023, abortion rates among the under-20s in Norway and Finland were lower than in Denmark, Sweden and Iceland.

The total number of induced abortions in the Nordic countries is at the same level as in the beginning of 2000s and increased during the last years in all countries. However, the number of abortions is still considerably lower than in the 1970s and 1980s when between 85 000 and 100 000 induced abortions were performed 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. The Finnish abortion law was revised on September 1, 2023, and now a pregnant woman can have an abortion at her own request up to the end of the 12th week of pregnancy. The legislative reforms do not appear to have increased the number of abortions in either country.

Download the full statistical reportLink to an external websiteOpens in a new tab

The numbers in the figure have been mentioned above. — *Figure 1. Induced abortions per 1000 women in fertile age (aged 15–49), 1990–2023*

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 2027, and the report will contain data up to 2025.

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.