Induced abortions in the Nordic countries 2009

Some 80 900 induced abortions were performed in 2009 in the Nordic countries; 37 500 in Sweden, 16 200 in Denmark, 15 800 in Norway, 10 400 in Finland and 970 in Iceland. In the past few years, abortion rates have remained relatively stable between the Nordic countries. The total number of abortions has increased in the 2000s, but it is still 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, the abortion rates have remained relatively stable in Finland, Denmark and Iceland but increased in Sweden and Norway.

In relation to the number of women of fertile age (15-49) Finland had the lowest and Sweden the highest number of induced abortions in 2009; there were 8.9 induced abortions per thousand women aged 15 to 49 years in Finland, while the corresponding figure for Sweden was 17.8. The figures for Norway are the same as the Nordic average (14.1/1000), and those for Denmark and Iceland are slightly lower (12.9/1000 and 12.4/1000).

Age distribution is a feature common to the abortion situation in all Nordic countries. Proportionally, the number of induced abortions is highest in the 20-24 age group. Abortion rates among female adolescents in the Nordic countries have remained quite stable, although there have been some differences in trends: in the 2000s abortions among the under-20s have decreased in Finland, Iceland and Norway.

Figure 1. Induced abortions in Nordic countries per thousand women aged 15-49 in 2009

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