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Article: Chapter 4. Abortion in Fact: Levels, Trends and Patterns. (Induced Abortion).
- Article from:
- Sharing Responsibility: Women, Society and Abortion Worldwide
- Article date:
- January 1, 1999
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 Guttmacher Institute. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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An estimated 46 million women around the world have abortions each year--26 million in countries with liberal abortion laws and 20 million where abortion is restricted or prohibited by law. Worldwide, an average of 35 of every 1,000 women of childbearing age have an abortion each year, but this rate ranges from about 10 in some countries to around 80 in others. Despite variations in the legal status of abortion in developed and developing regions, overall rates are quite similar for both--39 and 34 abortions per 1,000 women, respectively. Eastern Europe has the highest abortion rate of any region, and Western Europe has the lowest; the disparity exists despite little ...