Abortion is a tricky subject which is why we are not here to divulge on the legality, morality and ethical challenges that face this particular matter. However, even though most developed countries have legalized abortions, aborting a fetus always comes with its own kind of social stigma. Because even where the abortion is legal, there are women who will try to get illegal and unsafe abortions just to avoid social confrontations from close relatives mostly.

That is why most of the developed countries have emphasized on birth control and availability of contraception which has in turn reduced the abortion rate in developed nations from 46 per 1000 to 27 per 1000. Today, developed nations have the most controlled abortion rate even though it is legalized there and countries where it is illegal have more abortions on average than the developed nations. A recent study showed that abortion rate worldwide has gone significantly down which is now an estimated 35 per 1000 woman. Eastern Europe has been attributed to the highest abortion rate in the world with 43 abortions per 1000 women. Following are the countries with highest rates of abortion as well as most abortions per countries.

Poland

The shockingly high abortion rate in Poland comes as even bigger of a surprise when you learn that the abortion is illegal in Poland except for rape, or when mental and physical health of the mother is in question.

China

China has the most number of abortions per year. China’s world child policy was the significant reason for abortions and it is estimated that the country had around 30 million forced abortions each year in the 90s. Even now, 29.3% of the total pregnancies are aborted in China with an abortion rate of over 30 per 1000 women.

Slovakia and Czech Republic

Abortion has been practiced in restricted terms in Czechoslovakia for decades. It wasn’t until 1986 when the abortion became fully legalized in the country. However before, there used to a requirement of medical approval for abortions.

Romania

Romania used to have strict abortion laws but ever since the abortion was legalized up to 14 weeks of pregnancy for any reason, the abortion rate in the country has gotten astonishingly high.

Bulgaria

The studies show that there was a huge abortion rate spike worldwide in 1990. It was partly because many liberal parties that ruled all over the Europe lifted restrictions on abortions in 1990. Bulgaria was no different as abortion is legal here for any reason up to 12 weeks of pregnancy since 1990.

Hungary

The main reason the abortion rate in Hungary is so high is because the country has had a pro-choice stance for most of its existence. Abortion has been legal without any restriction on reason in the country since 1950.

Q: Which Country has the highest  number of abortions?

Russia

Russia has the second most number of abortions in a year after China. The rate is so high in a developed nation might come as a shock but considering the country is so huge with several different cultures it becomes a lot less surprising. Plus the country has legalized abortion since 1920 and these regions include countries like Belarus, Estonia, Ukraine, Crimea, Moldova and others after the collapse of the Soviet Union.