Worldwide Abortion Statistics:

The number of artificially abortions declined between 1995 and 2003, from nearly 46 million to approximately 42 million. Worldwide, roughly one in five pregnancies end in abortion.

Statistical Specifics

• Out of every 1,000 women of customary childbearing age (ages 15-44), it is estimated that 29 had an artificially induced abortion in 2003, compared with 35 in 1995.
• The decline in abortions was greater in developed countries, where most abortions are safe and legal, dropping from 39 to 26 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44, than in developing countries, where more than half are unsafe and illegal, and the drop was from 34 to 29.
• Thirty-five million abortions are performed in developing countries annually, compared with seven million in developed countries—a probable reflection of the relative population distribution.
• A woman's likelihood of having an abortion is almost the same irrespective of whether she lives in a developed or developing country. In 2003, there were 26 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44 in developed countries compared with 29 per 1,000 in developing countries.

Regional Abortion Statistics

The most dramatic decline in artificially induced abortions occurred in Eastern Europe where abortion is mostly legal and safe. The rate fell from 90 to 44 per 1,000. This marked decrease coincided with a substantial increase in the use of contraceptives within the region.

Incidence & Rates
Global and regional estimates of induced abortion, 1995 and 2003
Region and Subregion	No. of abortions (millions)		Abortion rate*
	1995	2003	1995	2003
World	45.6	41.6	35	29
Developed countries	10.0	6.6	39	26
Excluding Eastern Europe	3.8	3.5	20	19
Developing countries†	35.5	35.0	34	29
Excluding China	24.9	26.4	33	30
Estimates by region
Africa	5.0	5.6	33	29
Asia	26.8	25.9	33	29
Europe	7.7	4.3	48	28
Latin America	4.2	4.1	37	31
Northern America	1.5	1.5	22	21
Oceania	0.1	0.1	21	17
*Abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44 †Those within Africa, the Americas, excluding Canada and the United States of America, Asia, excluding Japan, and Oceania, excluding Australia and New Zealand

Although abortion rates in Eastern Europe have fallen in recent years, they are still higher than in any other region. In 2003, there were more abortions than births in that region (105 abortions for every 100 births). Abortions in Africa have increased since 1995, but the region's abortion rate has declined because of an increase in the number of reproductive-age women.

Because the greatest percentage of the world's population is concentrated in Asia, they have the highest sheer "number" (26 million yearly) of abortions, with nine million of them taking place in China. Abortion rates in Asia and Latin America have shown modest declines since 1995 while the rate is 17 in Northern Europe and 21 in North America (Canada and the United States of America). The lowest abortion rate in the world is in Western Europe with 12 per 1,000 women aged 15-44.