Abortion in the world: in which countries is it legalized and in which is it restricted or prohibited?

Aerial view showing protesters displaying green scarves in front of the Argentine Congress in Buenos Aires, on December 10, 2020 Source: AFP

Argentina today became the 67th country to legalize abortion in the world and the third in South America, joining Uruguay, which decriminalized the practice in 2012, and Guyana, where it has been legal since 1995.

The right to abortion varies widely throughout the world. The Center for Reproductive Rights, a global legal advocacy organization that seeks to promote reproductive rights, has classified the status of abortion in each country into five categories according to the degree of restriction: prohibited, permitted to save a woman’s life, permitted to preserve health, permitted under broad social or economic grounds and at the request of the woman (gestational limit varies). Argentina now belongs to category five (changing from yellow to blue).

A large number of countries incorporate causes to a greater or lesser extent to the termination of pregnancy. For example, Paraguay, Venezuela, Guatemala, Peru and Costa Rica have some of the most restrictive laws and They only decriminalize abortion if the life or health of the pregnant woman is in danger. On the other hand, other countries such as Finland or India, add causes that go beyond the danger of death or threat to the health of the mother, although there are also nuances.

How is the legislation on abortion in the world (map prior to the approval of the legislation in Argentina) Credit: Center for Reproductive Rights

Approximately 970 million women, representing 59% of women of reproductive age, live in countries that widely allow abortion. While the majority of women live in countries where they can exercise their right to abortion, 41% of women live under restrictive laws. The inability to access legal and safe abortion services affects 700 million women of reproductive age, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights.

According to the World Health Organization, 23,000 women die from unsafe abortions each year and tens of thousands more experience significant health complications.