Global

Abortion

For decades, the Guttmacher Institute has documented the reality of unsafe abortion in the developing world. We have pioneered methodologies to study abortion in countries where it is legally restricted, and our research portfolio includes studies on the incidence of abortion, the factors underlying women’s decisions to end their pregnancies, the conditions under which women obtain abortions, and the health, social and economic consequences of clandestine abortion. Most recently, the Unintended Pregnancy and Abortion Worldwide study has produced model-based estimates of the incidence of unintended pregnancy and abortion over the period 1990–2019 for 150 countries and territories around the world. Such estimates provide an opportunity to assess trends in unintended pregnancy and abor­tion over time for individual countries and territories, as well as regionally and globally. The Institute supports policies to promote access to safe abortion services worldwide, including through U.S. foreign aid programs.

 

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In low and middle-income countries, the poorest women typically are at greatest risk of experiencing serious complications from unsafe abortion. They are least likely to have access to high-quality family planning services, safe abortion procedures and postabortion care when they need treatment for complications.