Nordic statistics on induced abortions 2007

Some 78 700 induced abortions were performed in 2007 in the Nordic countries;
37 200 in Sweden, 15 200 in Norway, 15 000 in Denmark, 10 500 in Finland and 900 in Iceland. The total number of abortions has increased slightly in the 2000s, but it is still far below the level of the 1970s and 1980s. Back then, the Nordic countries performed between 85 000 and 100 000 induced abortions each year. During the 2000s, abortions rates have decreased in Finland and increased in Sweden. In the other Nordic countries, however, the rates have remained relatively stable.

Abortion numbers are usually compared by relating them to the number of women of fertile age (15-49). Measured in this way, Finland had the lowest and Sweden the highest number of induced abortions in 2007; there were 9.0 induced abortions per thousand women aged 15 to 49 years in Finland, while the corresponding figure for Sweden was 17.2. The figures for Denmark, Norway and Iceland are close to the Nordic average (13.7/1000). In the past few years, abortion rates have remained relatively stable between the Nordic countries.

Figure 1. Induced abortions in nordic countries per thousand women aged
15-49 in 2007

• Read more about nordic abortions
• Definitions and data sources
• Tables (pdf, 89 kt)
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• Whole Statistical Report (pdf, 224 kt)