Summary

Over several decades, Europe has experienced a steady trend towards the legalisation of abortion and repeal of restrictive laws and barriers. As of 2025, abortion is now legal in almost all European countries, with most allowing abortion on request at least during the early stages of pregnancy. Only 5 countries in the region now retain what are referred to as highly restrictive abortion laws.

This progressive trend is ongoing, as many European countries continue to take meaningful legislative steps to advance access to abortion, by removing harmful procedural and regulatory barriers and criminal penalties.

However, there is much still to be achieved. In many countries, harmful legal and procedural barriers continue to obstruct access to good quality abortion care. Mandatory waiting periods, biased counselling requirements, restrictive time limits, residual criminal penalties and financial barriers still impede access to good quality and timely abortion care for too many women. Some women in Europe still have to travel to foreign countries for abortion care or have to access abortion care through illegal pathways. Meanwhile, a handful of countries have sought to roll back entitlements to abortion care, introducing new regressive barriers and removing grounds for access to abortion.

This resource documents legal and policy progress, regression and enduring barriers across the continent with a view to providing decision makers, human rights advocates and legal experts with a comprehensive guide to abortion law and policy in Europe and clear recommendations for reform.

Tools & Resources

Tools and resources

1. Interactive report (digital version)
2. Report (PDF download)
3. Fact sheet (PDF download)