Abortion rates are similar in countries where procedure is legal or restricted

Abortion rates have declined globally over the past 25 years according to a comprehensive new report, although most of the change has occurred in developed regions with no significant change occurring in developing regions.1

The report from the Guttmacher Institute—a research organisation that focuses on sexual and reproductive health—shows that abortion rates are similar in countries where abortion is highly restricted and where it is broadly legal.

The abortion rate is 37 per 1000 women in those countries where abortion is banned or permitted only to save the life of the pregnant woman, and 34 per 1000 women in countries where abortion …