The World’s Abortion Laws
The Center for Reproductive Rights uses the power of law to advance reproductive rights as fundamental human rights around the world.
From Ireland to Nepal, abortion rights are becoming recognized as fundamental human rights for millions of people worldwide. And in Latin America, the Green Wave is ushering in a new era of liberalization in Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, and elsewhere in the region.
The devastating regression on abortion rights in the United States makes the country a stark outlier to the global trend toward liberalization.
Pictured: Countries and territories that have liberalized their abortion laws (dark blue) vs. those that have rolled back the legality of abortion (red).
This analysis draws from the most recent data from the UN Population Division, which tracks the number of women of reproductive age living in each country. We recognize people who do not identify as women may also need access to abortion services.
This map is our definitive record of the legal status of abortion globally and is updated in real-time to show how countries and territories are protecting – or violating – individuals’ abortion rights.
live in 77 countries that allow abortion on request.
These laws generally have gestational limits.live in 12 countries/territories that allow abortion on broad social or economic grounds.
Many countries and territories also permit abortion on other specific grounds, such as when pregnancy results from rape or incest or in cases of certain fetal diagnoses.live where abortion is permitted when pregnancy poses a risk to the person's health. Many of these laws include threats to preserve health.
Many countries also permit abortion on other specific grounds, such as when pregnancy results from rape or incest or in cases of certain fetal diagnoses.live in 44 countries that allow abortion to save the life of the woman.
Many countries also permit abortion on other specific grounds, such as when pregnancy results from rape or incest or in cases of certain fetal diagnoses.live in 21 countries that prohibit abortion altogether.
These are the most restrictive abortion laws in the world.In overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court removed nationwide protections for abortion rights. Since then, some states have criminalized abortion while others have strengthened protections.
In 2021, the Mexican Supreme Court unanimously recognized a constitutional right to legal, safe, and free abortion services early in pregnancy. Since then, states across Mexico have been liberalizing their laws to reflect that right.
Denial of abortion care is nothing short of a true human rights violation.
The Center for Reproductive Rights works in countries across the globe to ensure that pregnant people, not politicians, make decisions about pregnancies.
The definitive record of the legal status of abortion in countries and territories across the globe, updated in real time.
The Center for Reproductive Rights uses the power of law to advance reproductive rights as fundamental human rights around the world.