United Nations Population Division of the United Nations Secretariat

World Abortion Policies 1999

Region and Country Grounds on which abortion is permitted
To save the woman's life To preserve physical health To preserve mental health Rape or incest Foetal impair-
ment		 Economic or social reasons On request (1)
Total countries 193 193 193 193 193 193 193
    Permitted 189 122 120 83 76 63 52
    Not permitted 4 71 73 110 117 130 141
More developed regions 48 48 48 48 48 48 48
    Permitted 46 42 41 39 39 36 31
    Not permitted 2 6 7 9 9 12 17
Less developed regions 145 145 145 145 145 145 145
    Permitted 143 80 79 44 37 27 21
    Not permitted 2 65 66 101 108 118 124

Notes:

Grounds on which abortion is permitted: from Abortion Policies: An International Overview (United Nations publication, forthcoming);

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(1)For purposes of this table, if an abortion is authorized on request, it is presumed that an abortion can be performed during the period when it is authorized on request on any of the grounds listed, even if the law does not specifically mention such a ground.

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United Nations publication, (ST/ESA/SER.A/178), Sales No. E.99.XIII.5, Copyright (C) United Nations 1999