Abstract : This study relied on national official sources on legal abortions to estimate the incidence of induced abortion in 57 countries in 1996. The World Health Organization (WHO) provided data on illegal abortions. The data reflect a variety of sources and degrees of underreporting. Findings indicate that about 46 million abortions were performed worldwide in 1995. About 26 million were legal; 20 million were illegal. The abortion rate was about 35/1000 women aged 15-44 years. Legal abortions appear to have declined since 1987; illegal abortions have increased. WHO estimates that unsafe abortions rose from 3.7 to 5.0 million during 1990-95 in Africa. Most illegal abortions occur in Africa and Central and South America. Most legal abortions are performed in Europe. 64% of legal and 95% of illegal abortions are performed in developing countries. The legal and illegal abortion rate is 39/1000 women aged 15-44 years in developed countries and 34/1000 in developing countries. Abortions per 100 pregnancies are higher in developed countries. Central and Eastern Europe have very high abortion rates. Asia (59% of total abortions) has the largest total number of abortions. North America has only 3% of abortions. The subregion abortion rate is highest in Eastern Europe (90/1000). Countries with high abortion rates include Viet Nam, Romania, and Cuba. Russia and Romania have the highest recorded proportions of pregnancies that end in abortion (63%). 25% of 180 million pregnancies globally are resolved by abortion each year. Mistimed and unwanted pregnancies and contraception deficits are the main causes.
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