Abortion
Abortion is, according to Encyclopædia Britannica:
the expulsion of a fetus from the uterus before it has reached the stage of viability (in human beings, usually about the 20th week of gestation). An abortion may occur spontaneously, in which case it is also called a miscarriage, or it may be brought on purposefully, in which case it is often called an induced abortion. [186]
The abortion debate generally focuses on induced abortions, though some laws and criticisms also include miscarriages. Induced abortions most often fall into one or more of four categories, according to Encyclopædia Britannica:
- To preserve the life or physical or mental well-being of the mother.
- To prevent the completion of a pregnancy that has resulted from rape or incest. By some definitions, these abortions are therapeutic, or justifiable, abortions.
- To prevent the birth of a child with serious deformity, mental deficiency, or genetic abnormality.
- To prevent a birth for social or economic reasons (such as the extreme youth of the pregnant female or the sorely strained resources of the family unit). [186]
Explore the ProCon debate.
Early History
Abortion techniques were developed as early as 1550 bce, when the ancient Egyptian medical text, the Ebers papyrus, suggested that the vaginal insertion of plant fiber covered with honey and crushed dates could induce an abortion. Abortion was an accepted practice in ancient Greece and Rome. Greek philosopher Aristotle (384–322 bce) wrote that “when couples have children in excess, let abortion be procured before sense and life have begun.” In the latter days of the Roman Empire, attitudes shifted and abortion was a crime against the father who would be deprived of a potential child. [15] [16]
Throughout much of Western history, abortion was not considered a criminal act as long as it was performed before “quickening” (the first detectable movement of the fetus, which can occur between 13–25 weeks of pregnancy). American states derived their initial abortion statutes from British common law, which followed this principle. Until at least the early 1800s, abortion procedures and methods were legal and openly advertised throughout the United States. Abortion was unregulated, however, and could be not only unsafe but fatal for the pregnant person. [15] [17] [18] [19] [20] [29]
In 1821, Connecticut became the first U.S. state to criminalize abortion. The state banned the selling of an abortion-inducing “poison,” but it did not punish those who took the concoction. Legal consequences began in 1845 when New York criminalized a pregnant person’s participation in their own abortion, regardless of whether it took place before or after “quickening.” In the mid-1800s, early pro-life advocate Dr. Horatio Robinson Storer (1830–1922) convinced the American Medical Association to join him in campaigning for the outlawing of abortion nationwide. By the early 1900s, most states had banned abortion. By 1965, all 50 states had outlawed abortion, with some exceptions that varied by state. [2] [3] [19] [21]
The motivation behind these early abortion laws has been disputed. Some argue that the laws were not aimed at preserving the lives of unborn children but rather were intended to protect pregnant people from unsafe abortion procedures, or to allow the medical profession to take over responsibility for pregnant people’s health from untrained practitioners. Others say that pro-life concerns were already prevalent and were a major influence behind the efforts to ban abortion. [15] [19] [22]
Roe, Casey, and Dobbs
Beginning on January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade ruling protected abortion rights nationally by declaring most state anti-abortion laws unconstitutional. The Supreme Court’s 7-2 decision established rules based on the pregnancy trimester framework, banning legislative interference in the first trimester of pregnancy (0–12 weeks), allowing states to regulate abortion during the second trimester (weeks 13–28) “in ways that are reasonably related to maternal health,” and allowing a state to “regulate, and even proscribe [prohibit]” abortion during the third trimester (weeks 29–40) “in promoting its interest in the potentiality of human life,” unless an abortion is required to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person The decision also allowed states to prohibit abortions performed by anyone who is not a state-licensed physician. [6] [23]
Roe was reinforced by the June 29, 1992, decision in Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, which upheld the constitutional right to have an abortion but abandoned the “rigid trimester framework” outlined in Roe v. Wade, adopting a less restrictive standard for state regulations. The decision enabled states to impose waiting periods before an abortion could be obtained, allowed some legislative interference in the first trimester in the interest of health, and permitted parental consent requirements for minors seeking abortions. The Court ruled that none of these conditions imposed an “undue burden” upon those seeking abortions, but some pro-choice advocates warned that Roe v. Wade had been significantly weakened and that states would limit abortion access. [7] [30] [31] [32]
Both Roe and Casey were overturned by the 6-3 Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization on June 24, 2022. The ruling did not outlaw abortion in the United States, but eliminated the federal constitutional right to abortion, allowing each state to create its own abortion laws. This created a tumultuous landscape of state abortion restrictions. [123] [124] [125]
Pro-Choice and Pro-Life Groups
Pro-choice groups generally advocate for the legality of abortion. As Encyclopædia Britannica explains:
Although the movement has existed in some form since the 19th century, when the medical practice of abortion became subject to government regulation, the term pro-choice dates to the mid-1970s, having been consciously adopted by political advocates as a counter to the moniker pro-life, favoured by the antiabortion movement … [More recently] the term pro-choice movement has largely been displaced among activists by the more expansive and popular terms abortion rights movement and reproductive justice movement. [187]
Pro-life groups, on the other hand, generally advocate for the illegality of abortion, though some make exceptions for the life of the pregnant person. As Encyclopædia Britannica elaborates that pro-life groups tend to:
argue that there is no rational basis for distinguishing the fetus from a newborn infant; each is totally dependent and potentially a member of society, and each possesses a degree of humanity. [186]
Democratic and Republican Party Positions
Both major American political parties have included abortion or reproductive rights in their party platforms since 1976, the first presidential election year after the Roe Supreme Court decision. [188]
The 1976 Democratic Partyplatform said simply:
We fully recognize the religious and ethical nature of the concerns which many Americans have on the subject of abortion. We feel, however, that it is undesirable to attempt to amend the U.S. Constitution to overturn the Supreme Court decision [Roe v. Wade] in this area. [189]
The 1976 Republican Party platform, however, included more debate:
The question of abortion is one of the most difficult and controversial of our time. It is undoubtedly a moral and personal issue but it also involves complex questions relating to medical science and criminal justice. There are those in our Party who favor complete support for the Supreme Court decision which permits abortion on demand. There are others who share sincere convictions that the Supreme Court’s decision must be changed by a constitutional amendment prohibiting all abortions. Others have yet to take a position, or they have assumed a stance somewhere in between polar positions.
We protest the Supreme Court’s intrusion into the family structure through its denial of the parents’ obligation and right to guide their minor children. The Republican Party favors a continuance of the public dialogue on abortion and supports the efforts of those who seek enactment of a constitutional amendment to restore protection of the right to life for unborn children. [190]
By the 2024 presidential election, after Roe was overturned in 2022, each party included abortion or reproductive rights as main tenets. Under the heading “Reproductive Freedom,” the Democratic Party platform included nine paragraphs on the topic that began:
Trump’s Supreme Court appointees overturned Roe v Wade, eliminating a fundamental constitutional right and denying women across the nation the right to choose. The extreme act of overturning Roe , which had been the law of the land for nearly half a century, has already had devastating consequences nationwide.
Over the past two years, more than 20 states have imposed extreme and dangerous abortion bans – many of which include no exception even for rape or incest – that put the health and lives of women in jeopardy, force women to travel hundreds of miles for care, and threaten to criminalize doctors for providing the health care that their patients need and that they are trained to provide. Laws that limit access to contraception and to fertility treatments like IVF. Laws that were first adopted in the 1800s. [191]
Under the heading “Republicans Will Protect and Defend a Vote of the People, from within the States, on the Issue of Life,” the Republican Party platform stated simply:
We proudly stand for families and Life. We believe that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees that no person can be denied Life or Liberty without Due Process, and that the States are, therefore, free to pass Laws protecting those Rights. After 51 years, because of us, that power has been given to the States and to a vote of the People. We will oppose Late Term Abortion, while supporting mothers and policies that advance Prenatal Care, access to Birth Control, and IVF (fertility treatments).[192]
The split between the major parties means abortion has become a divisive issue that greatly influences voters, making many single-issue voters who only vote for candidates who share their opinion on abortion.
Contemporary Abortion Procedures
The most common type of abortion in the United States is now medication abortion, which accounted for 63 percent (about 642,700) of all abortions in 2023, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which explains:
There are various drug regimens shown to be effective at ending a pregnancy. The most common regimen offered by U.S. providers involves two drugs used in combination: mifepristone, which stops the pregnancy from continuing, and misoprostol, which causes uterine cramping and expels the pregnancy. While the FDA approved this two-drug regimen for up to 70 days (10 weeks) of pregnancy, emerging data show that medication abortion is also safe and effective beyond 10 weeks of pregnancy. Using misoprostol alone to end a pregnancy is also a well-used and safe regimen, supported by leading professional and medical organizations in the United States and around the world.[193] [194]
Abortions performed in clinics or hospitals during the first trimester (0-12 weeks) of pregnancy are most often vacuum aspiration, in which “a doctor uses gentle suction to remove the contents of the uterus,” according to Kaiser Permanente. During the procedure, a doctor inserts a thin tube into the uterus. The tube is connected to either a pump or a specially designed syringe to provide suction. The procedure is also used to complete a failed medication abortion or to assist a miscarriage. [195]
Dilation and evacuation (D&E) is another type of abortion performed in clinics and hospitals during the second trimester (13-28 weeks). The Guttmacher Institute explains:
Similar to a first-trimester surgical procedure, the patient’s cervix is dilated and suction is used to remove the fetus. Depending on a variety of factors (including gestational age, the extent of dilation, and providers’ training and preference), the provider might also use surgical instruments as a primary or secondary part of the procedure. [196]
Plan B is an emergency contraceptive, not an abortion drug. Plan B “will not work if you’re already pregnant, and will not affect an existing pregnancy,” explains the FDA. Instead, Plan B prevents pregnancy before it starts by temporarily delaying ovulation.[140] [227]
Pros and Cons at a Glance
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Pro 1: Abortion is a safe medical procedure that protects lives. Read More. | Con 1: Abortion is murder. Read More. |
| Pro 2: Abortion bans endanger reproductive healthcare for everyone. Read More. | Con 2: Legal abortion promotes a culture in which life is disposable. Read More. |
| Pro 3: Abortion is a fundamental human right that affirms bodily autonomy Read More. | Con 3: Better access to birth control, health insurance, and sexual education would make abortion unnecessary. Read More. |
Pro Arguments
(Go to Con Arguments)Pro 1: Abortion is a safe medical procedure that protects lives.
The death rate for legal abortions is 0.46 deaths for every 100,000 abortions. By contrast, there are one to two deaths per 100,000 plastic surgery procedures, three deaths for every 100,000 colonoscopies, and three to six deaths per 100,000 tonsillectomies. Childbirth has 22.3 deaths per 100,000 deliveries (49.5 deaths per 100,000 deliveries for Black women). [87] [197] [198]
The “abortion pill” (Mifeprex) has a better safety record than common over-the-counter drugs including Tylenol, as well as prescription drugs penicillin and Viagra. Medication abortion (a combination of Mifeprex and misoprostol) has a mortality rate of 5 deaths per one million patients, while 20 patients per million die taking penicillin and 49 per million die taking Viagra. [88] [89] [199]
Pregnancy-related maternal deaths increased in U.S. states with abortion bans after Roe was overturned. Mothers in states with abortion bans were overall twice as likely to die during pregnancy, childbirth, or shortly thereafter, while Black mothers were over three times as likely to die. In Texas, where there are now strict abortion bans, the maternal mortality rate rose 95 percent among white women and 56 percent overall. A mother in Texas was 155 percent more likely to die than a mother in California, where abortion is legal and supported. [200]
Amanda Stevenson, sociology professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder, explained, “People with resources are more likely to make it out of state or find out about medication abortions. People who can’t are more likely to have health issues, to live in poverty and have less access to resources.” People of color are especially likely to be in the latter category and, thus, negatively impacted by abortion bans. [90]
Globally 45 percent of abortions are unsafe, 97 percent of which take place in developing countries with strict abortion laws. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Evidence shows that restricting access to abortions does not reduce the number of abortions; however, it does affect whether the abortions that women and girls attain are safe and dignified. The proportion of unsafe abortions are significantly higher in countries with highly restrictive abortion laws than in countries with less restrictive laws.” [91]
Pro 2: Abortion bans endanger reproductive healthcare for everyone.
Medical treatment for nonviable pregnancies is often exactly the same as an abortion. [92] [93] [94]
Ectopic pregnancies occur when a fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterine cavity. About one in 50 pregnancies are ectopic, and they are nonviable. Bleeding from ectopic pregnancies caused 10 percent of all pregnancy-related deaths, and ectopic pregnancies were the leading cause of maternal death in the first trimester. Other pregnancies can be nonviable, including when there is little or no chance of the baby’s survival once it is born or if the baby has died in utero. The treatment for ectopic and other nonviable pregnancies is often the same as that for an abortion. [94] [98] [92] [95] [96] [97]
One out of every ten pregnancies ends in miscarriage. The drugs used for medication abortions are the treatment recommended for early miscarriages. For later or complicated miscarriages, the same surgical procedure used for abortions is recommended. [93]
While some abortion bans include specific exceptions for nonviable pregnancies and miscarriages, other bans are too vague to be practicable. Healthcare providers may refuse to perform a procedure that could be interpreted as an “on-demand” abortion for fear of liability or prosecution. Arguing that doctors and others use them as loopholes for “on demand” abortions, lobbyists are working to eliminate exceptions altogether, which would further endanger and traumatize people seeking care for dangerous medical conditions. [97] [99]
Some pharmacists have refused to fill prescriptions for miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies, because the drugs can also be used for abortion. In Texas, pharmacists can be sued for “aiding and abetting” an abortion. [93] [96]
Furthermore, bans are a slippery slope to contraceptive and other healthcare restrictions. For example, some already incorrectly view Plan B (the morning after pill) as an abortifacient and are thinking of including it in abortion bans. [100]
Pro 3: Abortion is a fundamental human right that affirms bodily autonomy
Amnesty International stated, “Laws and policies that affect the lives of all persons who can become pregnant must ensure access to abortion and full bodily autonomy. Laws restricting access to safe abortion violate the human rights of women and people who can get pregnant.” [164]
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stated:
eliminating the rights of women to make decisions about when and whether to have children would have very damaging effects on the economy and would set women back decades.... In many cases, abortions are of teenage women, particularly low-income and often Black, who aren’t in a position to be able to care for children, have unexpected pregnancies, and it deprives them of the ability often to continue their education to later participate in the workforce. [101]
After being denied an abortion, household poverty increased and lasted four or more years, resulting in an inability to cover basic expenses including food, housing, and transportation. A denied abortion was associated with a lowered credit score, increased debt, and an increase in negative public records including evictions and bankruptcies. The households were also more reliant on government assistance. Transgender and nonbinary people denied abortions may face even worse outcomes. [102] [103] [104]
Some 60 percent of those seeking abortions already had other children. Being denied an abortion worsened the well-being of their older children, including not meeting childhood development markers. [102]
Pregnant people denied an abortion were also more likely to have serious health complications, have poor physical and mental health for years afterward, and stay with abusive partners. They were more likely to be raising their children alone five years later. [102] [105]
The Turnaway Study concluded, “Abortion does not harm women,” and “Women who receive a wanted abortion are more financially stable, set more ambitious goals, raise children under more stable conditions, and are more likely to have a wanted child later.” [102] [105]
Con Arguments
(Go to Pro Arguments)Con 1: Abortion is murder.
Conception is the moment a sperm cell fertilizes an egg cell, which begins the process of cell division that creates a human. [106]
As Tara Sander Lee, senior fellow and director of life sciences at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, states, “life begins from the moment of conception when the sperm fertilizes the egg, because there is the creation of a new, totally distinct, integrated organism or a human being, which is going to be biologically distinct from all other life forms on this planet.” The first cell is biologically distinct because it has its own DNA that is different from either biological parent and all other humans. [107]
Ending a life is murder, legally and ethically, even a life that is only a few growing cells at the time of death.
“Abortion is murder,” explained Pope Francis.
Those who carry out abortions kill….At the third week after conception, often even before the mother is aware (of being pregnant), all the organs are already (starting to develop). It is a human life. Period. And this human life has to be respected. It is very clear.… Scientifically, it is a human life. [108]
That people may face difficulties without abortion as an option does not excuse or justify murder. A reader of The Atlantic, who gave only the initial K., clarified the moral dilemma:
I wish that I could be pro-choice because the awful circumstances so many women face—that I can’t even imagine facing—seem so much more real to me than the rights of a fetus who doesn’t even always look human. But abortion is the intentional killing of a human being and we look back with horror at anyone in history who decided a group of people did not actually count as people. We cannot solve the problem of injustice against women with more injustice. We need solutions that support women without killing fetuses. [144]
Con 2: Legal abortion promotes a culture in which life is disposable.
Echoing a 2014 remark by Pope Francis that connected abortion to “throwaway culture,” Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, who had previously declared legal abortion a “brutalization of the American heart” on par with the “dehumanization of the undocumented” immigrants, said, “abortion represents a failure to recognize the sanctity of human life and promotes a culture in which human life in its most vulnerable moment is perceived as disposable. Such a proposal targets poor women as needing an expedient solution to a complex problem.”[109] [110]
Alveda King, former Georgia state representative and niece of Martin Luther King, Jr., also connected abortion to other societal ills:
Abortion and racism are both symptoms of a fundamental human error. The error is thinking that when someone stands in the way of our wants, we can justify getting that person out of our lives. Abortion and racism stem from the same poisonous root, selfishness. We create the deceptions that the other person is less important, less worthy, less human. We are all fully human. When we face this truth, there is no justification for treating those who look different than us as lesser beings. If we simply treat other people the way we’d like to be treated, racism, abortion, and other forms of inhumanity will be things of the past. [111]
“Abortion is an act rife with the potential for eugenic manipulation,” according to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. “Technological advances have only heightened the eugenic potential for abortion, as abortion can now be used to eliminate children with unwanted characteristics, such as a particular sex or disability.” [112]
Con 3: Better access to birth control, health insurance, and sexual education would make abortion unnecessary.
Abortion rates in the United States have fallen at what the CDC called a “slow yet steady pace” since a peak in 1981. That year there were 29.3 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44. The rate fell to 11.2 abortions per 1,000 women in 2022, the most recent CDC data. KFF notes there has only been a “slight increase” in abortions both immediately before and after Roe was struck down. [113] [114] [201]
Experts largely attribute the overall decline in abortions in the United States and elsewhere to the improved safety and availability of LARC (long-acting reversible contraception) including IUDs and contraceptive implants that can last up to 10 years. Access to health insurance to pay for contraceptives also contributed to the drop. With the passage of Obamacare (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act), more people were insured with access to free or low-cost contraceptives and reproductive care. [113] [113] [115] [116]
Linda Rosenstock, public health professor at UCLA, summarized the simplicity of the connection: “In the United States each year, about half of pregnancies are unintended and about 40 percent of those lead to abortion. Access to birth control leads to fewer abortions.” [113]
Furthermore, teens are having sex later in life than their parents. Only 32 percent of American high school students reported they have had sex (down from 54 percent in 1991) and only 21 percent reported they were currently sexually active (37.5 percent in 1991). [117] [202]
Because teen birth control use has not increased significantly, experts attribute the decline in part to better sex education. Students who received comprehensive sexual education initiated sex later than students who did not participate in sexual education courses. The later teens have sex, the less chance there is for them to become pregnant unintentionally, which leads to fewer abortions. [113] [117] [118]
Historically, abortion was a popular means of birth control and family planning due to a lack of reliable contraception, education, and other resources, and the fact that childbirth was incredibly dangerous. Better options are now available, including more effective birth control, better healthcare and health insurance, and sex education to ensure an unwanted pregnancy does not happen in the first place. [113] [119]
U.S. Abortion Legality
State-by-State Legality
The research below, provided by Encyclopædia Britannica, shows the abortion laws in each state as of March 19, 2026. This resource is not intended as legal advice. Please consult state laws.
| state | abortion laws | details and exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| 1Ranging between 22 to 26 weeks, as determined by state and medical professionals. | ||
| 2“Lethal fetal anomaly” means a fetal condition diagnosed before birth that, if the pregnancy results in a live birth, will with reasonable certainty result in the death of the child not more than three (3) months after the child’s birth. (Indiana Code [IC] 16-25-4.5-2). | ||
| 3North Dakota’s total ban was ruled unconstitutional, and it was repealed on September 26, 2024. Litigation around the ban is ongoing. | ||
| Source: Mindy Johnston and Rick Livingston, "U.S. Abortion Rights by State," britannica.com, December 20, 2024 | ||
| Alabama | Full ban | All abortions prohibited. Exception to preserve the life of the pregnant person. |
| Alaska | Legal with no gestational limit | |
| Arizona | Legal before viability1 | Exception to preserve the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant person. |
| Arkansas | Full ban | All abortions prohibited. Exception to preserve the life of the pregnant person. |
| California | Legal before viability1 | Abortion is banned at fetal viability. Exception to preserve the life of the pregnant person. |
| Colorado | Legal with no gestational limit | |
| Connecticut | Legal before viability1 | Abortion is banned at fetal viability. Exception to preserve the life of the pregnant person. |
| Delaware | Legal before viability1 | Abortion is banned at fetal viability. Exception to preserve the life of the pregnant person or for lethal fetal anomaly. |
| District of Columbia | Legal with no gestational limit | |
| Florida | Ban after 6 weeks | Exception to preserve the life of the pregnant person; for victims of rape, incest, domestic violence, or human trafficking who have reported the incident to law enforcement up to 15 weeks gestation; and fatal fetal abnormality until the third trimester. Medication abortion must be dispensed in person by a physician and cannot be delivered by mail or other courier service. |
| Georgia | Ban after 6 weeks | Exception to preserve the life of the pregnant person, for lethal fetal anomaly, or through 20 weeks for rape or incest survivors who have reported the incident to law enforcement. |
| Hawaii | Legal before viability1 | Abortion is banned at fetal viability. Exception to preserve the life of the pregnant person. |
| Idaho | Full ban | All abortions prohibited. Exception for survivors of rape and incest who have reported the incident to law enforcement. An exception to preserve the life of the pregnant person may be made if, in the judgment of the performing physician, the pregnant person—because of an existing medical condition or pregnancy complication that would be alleviated by an abortion—faces a non-negligible risk of dying sooner without an abortion. |
| Illinois | Legal before viability1 | Abortion is banned at fetal viability. Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person. |
| Indiana | Full ban | All abortions prohibited. Exception for lethal fetal anomaly2, rape or incest before 12 weeks of pregnancy, or serious risk to the health or life of a pregnant person. |
| Iowa | Ban after 6 weeks | Exception for medical emergency to preserve the life of the pregnant person, a lethal fetal anomaly before 20 weeks, or if the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest and the incident was reported to law enforcement or a public or private health agency within 45 days of the occurrence. |
| Kansas | Legal before viability1 | Abortion is banned at fetal viability. Exception to preserve the life of the pregnant person. |
| Kentucky | Full ban | All abortions prohibited. Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person. |
| Louisiana | Full ban | All abortions prohibited. Exception to preserve the life of the pregnant person or for lethal fetal anomaly. |
| Maine | Legal before viability1 | Abortion is banned at fetal viability. Exceptions at physician’s discretion. |
| Maryland | Legal before viability1 | Abortion is banned at fetal viability. Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person or for lethal fetal anomaly. |
| Massachusetts | Ban at 24 weeks | Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person. |
| Michigan | Legal before viability1 | Abortion is banned at fetal viability. Exception to preserve the life of the pregnant person. |
| Minnesota | Legal with no gestational limit | |
| Mississippi | Full ban | All abortions prohibited. Exception for survivors of rape and incest who have reported the incident to law enforcement or to preserve the life of the pregnant person. |
| Missouri | Legal before viability1 | Exception to preserve the life of the pregnant person. |
| Montana | Legal before viability1 | Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person. |
| Nebraska | Ban after 11 weeks, 6 days | Exceptions for survivors of rape and incest, to preserve the life of the pregnant person, or for ectopic pregnancies. |
| Nevada | Legal before viability1 | Exception to protect the health or life of the pregnant person. |
| New Hampshire | Ban at 24 weeks | Exception to preserve the life of the pregnant person or for lethal fetal anomaly. |
| New Jersey | Legal with no gestational limit | |
| New Mexico | Legal with no gestational limit | |
| New York | Legal before viability1 | Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person or for lethal fetal anomaly. |
| North Carolina | Ban after 12 weeks | Exception for ectopic pregnancy, survivors of rape or incest through week 20, or lethal fetal anomaly through week 24. |
| North Dakota | Full ban | Exception in the case of death or serious health risk to the pregnant person, survivors and victims of rape and incest up to six weeks gestation. |
| Ohio | Legal before viability1 | Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person. |
| Oklahoma | Full ban | All abortions prohibited. |
| Oregon | Legal with no gestational limit | |
| Pennsylvania | Ban at 24 weeks | Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person. |
| Rhode Island | Legal before viability1 | Abortion is banned at fetal viability. Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person. |
| South Carolina | Ban after 6 weeks | Exception to preserve life or health of the pregnant person, for lethal fetal anomaly, or for survivors of rape and incest up to 12 weeks gestation. |
| South Dakota | Full ban | All abortions prohibited. Exception to preserve the life of the pregnant person. |
| Tennessee | Full ban | All abortions prohibited. Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person. |
| Texas | Full ban | All abortions prohibited. Exception for limited set of medical emergencies. |
| Utah | Ban at 18 weeks | Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person or for lethal fetal anomaly. |
| Vermont | Legal with no gestational limit | |
| Virginia | Legal before viability1 | Abortion is banned at fetal viability. Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person. |
| Washington | Legal before viability1 | Abortion is banned at fetal viability. Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person. |
| West Virginia | Full ban | All abortions prohibited. Exception for nonmedically viable fetus, ectopic pregnancy, medical emergency, or for survivors of rape and incest up to 8–14 weeks gestation who have reported the incident to law enforcement. |
| Wisconsin | Ban at 22 weeks | Exception to preserve the life of the pregnant person. |
| Wyoming | Ban after 6 weeks | Abortion is banned after embryonic cardiac activity is detected, generally at or about six weeks of gestation. Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person. |
Abortion Laws in U.S. Territories
| U.S territory | abortion laws | details and exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| American Samoa | de facto full ban | American Samoa ban abortion with very few limited exceptions. There are no abortion providers on the island, creating a de facto full ban. [158] |
| Guam | de facto full ban | Guam’s laws require than anyone seeking an abortion meet with a doctor in-person before the procedure. There are no abortion providers on the island, creating a de facto full ban. Guam also has a ban after 13-weeks with very limited exceptions. [156] [165] |
| Northern Mariana Islands | Full ban | The constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands includes a 1980 provision that states, “[t]he abortion of the unborn child during the mother’s pregnancy is prohibited in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, except as provided by law.” However, there are no laws to provide exceptions, which creates a full ban. [155] |
| Puerto Rico | Full ban | Puerto Rico only allows abortions that “preserve the health or life” of the pregnant person. In 1980, the Puerto Rico Supreme Court ruled that abortion was protected by the constitution’s guarantee of a right to intimacy, though there are no laws to protect or restrict access to the procedure. [154] |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Legal before viability | The U.S. Virgin Islands allows abortions through 12 weeks by any physician and though 24 weeks in a hospital. Exception after 24 weeks if the pregnancy will endanger the life of the pregnant person. [158] |
Types of U.S. State Abortion Restrictions
State restrictions on abortion access increased sharply after the 2010 midterm elections when Republicans gained at least 675 state legislative seats, the biggest gain made by any party in state legislatures since 1938. Between June 24, 2022, when Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court and December 31, 2021, states passed 1,338 new abortion restrictions, 44 percent of which were passed after 2011, 108 of them in 2021 alone. [38] [45] [46] [86]
Some abortion restrictions were passed prior to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. Those restrictions may no longer apply in states where "trigger laws," which ban abortion without federal constitutional protection, were in effect.
- Ultrasound laws: These laws require people seeking an abortion to get an ultrasound, which is frequently accompanied by a detailed description of the fetus’ heart, limbs, and organs. [6] [52]
- Fetal abnormality laws: These laws ban abortions in cases of fetal abnormality, even if the fetus will die before or shortly after birth. [51]
- “Fetal heartbeat” laws or six-week bans: This type of law outlaws abortions as early as six weeks after the last menstrual period, when an electrical impulse, often called a “fetal heartbeat,” can first be detected, though the fetus does not have an actual anatomical heart at this point in development. [33] [47] [48] [49] [76]
- Laws designed to challenge Roe v. Wade in court: These laws were passed by several states in 2019 and typically combined six-week bans with other restrictive measures such as allowing no exceptions for rape or incest and including felony penalties for doctors who perform abortions. The laws were intended to be challenged in court to get abortion before the newly conservative U.S. Supreme Court. These measures proved successful when Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022. [64] [65] [66] [67] [68]
- COVID-19 restrictions: Pandemic restrictions were put in place by at least seven states by April 9, 2020, including Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas. Each state listed abortion as a nonessential medical procedure during the COVID-19 pandemic. The states contend they were freeing up medical personnel to deal with the pandemic, while abortions rights supporters argued that the states were already hostile to abortion rights and were using the pandemic as an excuse to enact a ban that could last beyond the pandemic. Federal judges later blocked or partially blocked the bans in most of the states. [70]
- Civil lawsuits for aiding abortions: This type of law makes performing abortions illegal if a doctor could detect a “fetal heartbeat,” or around six weeks. While the laws are technically “fetal heartbeat laws,” the enforcement of the law is left to private citizens who may sue anyone who helps someone obtain an abortion, from doctors to Uber drivers.[82] [83] [84] [85]
- Protections against abortion-based civil lawsuits: In anticipation of Roe v. Wade being overturned by the Supreme Court, some states enacted laws that would protect health care providers and those seeking abortions from civil lawsuits started in another state. The laws were passed because some states authorized civil action against anyone seeking an abortion or anyone aiding a person seeking an abortion, even in another state. [126]
- “Abortion trafficking” restrictions: These laws criminalize transporting another person to have an abortion. [143]
Global Abortion Laws
According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, 60 percent of women of reproductive age live where abortion is broadly legal (about 1.12 billion women), while 40 percent live under restrictive laws (about 753 million women).
| jurisdiction | abortion laws | details and exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| Source (except where noted): Center for Reproductive Rights, "The World’s Abortion Laws," reproductiverights.org (accessed January 7, 2025) | ||
| Afghanistan | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Albania | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Algeria | Ban with exception | Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person. |
| Andorra | Full ban | |
| Angola | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape, incest, and fetal diagnosis. |
| Antigua & Barbuda | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Argentina | Legal | Gestational limit of 14 weeks. |
| Armenia | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Aruba | Full ban | |
| Australia | Legal | Gestational limits vary by jurisdiction. |
| Austria | Legal | Gestational limit of 90 days or 3 months. |
| Azerbaijan | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Bahamas | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Bahrain | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Bangladesh | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Barbados | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. A liberal definition of "risk" is generally applied, including but not limited to the general fact that abortion carries less risk to the pregnant person than childbirth. |
| Belarus | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Belgium | Legal | Gestational limit of 14 weeks. |
| Belize | Ban with exceptions | Belize criminalizes abortion as a felony unless two doctors state that the abortion is necessary to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person or if the child may be severely handicapped. [160] |
| Benin | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Bhutan | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to save the life of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape and incest. |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Botswana | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape, incest, and fetal diagnosis. |
| Brazil | Ban with exceptions | exceptions to save the life of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape and incest. |
| Brunei Darussalam | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Bulgaria | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Burkina Faso | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape, incest, and fetal diagnosis. |
| Burundi | Ban with exception | Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person. |
| Cabo Verde | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Cambodia | Legal | Gestational limit of 14 weeks. |
| Cameroon | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape. |
| Canada | Legal | Gestational limits vary by jurisdiction. |
| Central African Republic | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape, incest, and fetal diagnosis. |
| Chad | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape, incest, and fetal diagnosis. |
| Chile | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to save the life of the pregnant person and in cases of rape and fetal diagnosis. |
| China | Legal | Law does not indicate a gestational limit. |
| Colombia | Legal | Gestational limit of 24 weeks. |
| Comoros | Ban with exception | Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person. |
| Congo | Full ban | |
| Costa Rica | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Côte d’Ivoire | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to save the life of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape. |
| Croatia | Legal | Gestational limit of 10 weeks. |
| Cuba | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Curaçao | Full ban | |
| Cyprus | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Czech Republic | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape, incest, and fetal diagnosis. |
| Denmark | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Djibouti | Ban with exception | Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person. |
| Dominica | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Dominican Republic | Full ban | |
| Ecuador | Ban with exception | Exception in cases of rape. |
| Egypt | Full ban | |
| El Salvador | Full ban | |
| England | Legal before viability | Gestational limit of 24 weeks. Doctors in Great Britain are required to ask if the pregnancy will involve greater risk than termination, cause grave injury to the pregnant person or risk their life, or if there is risk to the child. Verification of the pregnant person’s answers is not required and a liberal definition of "risk" is generally applied, including but not limited to the general fact that abortion carries less risk to the pregnant person than childbirth. [162] |
| Equatorial Guinea | Legal | Gestational limit of 10 weeks. |
| Eritrea | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape and incest. |
| Estonia | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Eswatini | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape, incest, and fetal diagnosis. |
| Ethiopia | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, in cases of extreme poverty, rape, incest, and fetal diagnosis. |
| Fiji | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions in cases of rape, incest. and fetal diagnosis. |
| Finland | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| France | Legal | Gestational limit of 16 weeks. |
| French Guinea | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Gabon | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to save the life of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape, incest, and fetal diagnosis. |
| Gambia | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to save the life of the pregnant person, and in cases of fetal diagnosis. |
| Georgia | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Germany | Legal | Gestational limit of 14 weeks. |
| Ghana | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape, incest, and fetal diagnosis. |
| Greece | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Greenland | Legal | Gestational limits vary by jurisdiction. |
| Grenada | Ban with exception | Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person. |
| Guatemala | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Guinea | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape, incest, and fetal diagnosis. |
| Guinea Bissau | Legal | Law does not indicate a gestational limit. |
| Guyana | Legal | Gestational limit of 8 weeks. |
| Guyana | Legal | Gestational limit of 8 weeks. |
| Haiti | Full ban | |
| Honduras | Full ban | |
| Honduras | Full ban | |
| Hong Kong | Legal before viability | Gestational limit of 24 weeks. Legally, an abortion is only allowed under specific circumstances, including fetal diagnosis, if the pregnant person is under 16 or the victim of illegal sexual activity, or if the risk of pregnancy is greater than that of abortion. A liberal definition of "risk" is generally applied, including but not limited to the general fact that statistically abortion carries less risk to the pregnant person than childbirth. Abortion is only illegal after 24 weeks or if the procedure is not performed by medical personnel in an appropriate medical clinic or hospital. [163] |
| Hungary | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Iceland | Legal | Gestational limit of 22 weeks. |
| India | Legal | Gestational limit of 24 weeks. |
| Indonesia | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions in cases of rape and fetal diagnosis. |
| Iran | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to save the life of the pregnant person, and in cases of fetal diagnosis. |
| Iraq | Full ban | |
| Ireland | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Israel | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape, incest, and fetal diagnosis. |
| Italy | Legal | Gestational limit of 90 days or 3 months. |
| Jamaica | Full ban | |
| Japan | Legal | Japan approved medicine abortions up to 9 weeks in 2023. For both medicine and surgical abortions, a pregnant person may have to provide proof of partner consent. [161] |
| Jordan | Ban with exception | Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person. |
| Kazakhstan | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Kenya | Ban with exception | Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person. |
| Kiribati | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Kosovo | Legal | Gestational limit of 10 weeks. |
| Kuwait | Ban with exceptions | Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person and in cases of fetal diagnosis. Spousal or parental authorization is required. |
| Kyrgyzstan | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Laos | Full ban | |
| Latvia | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Lebanon | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Lesotho | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape, incest, and fetal diagnosis. |
| Liberia | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape, incest, and fetal diagnosis. |
| Libya | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Liechtenstein | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape. |
| Lithuania | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Luxembourg | Legal | Gestational limit of 14 weeks. |
| Madagascar | Full ban | |
| Madagascar | Full ban | |
| Malawi | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Malaysia | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Maldives | Legal | Gestational limit of 120 days. |
| Mali | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to save the life of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape and incest. |
| Malta | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Marshall Islands | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Mauritius | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape, incest, and fetal diagnosis. |
| Mexico | Legality varies by jurisdiction | The Mexico Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that there is a constitutional right to abortion within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy with exceptions for if the pregnancy is the result of rape or non-consensual assisted reproductive procedures, there are medical or financial reasons, or if the pregnant person was denied an abortion within the 12-week limit. The ruling did not automatically apply throughout the country, but instead created a precedent that judges have to follow. In other words, if a court case is brought, then judges have to rule that abortion is legal through at least the first 12 weeks with the exceptions. As of November 14, 2024, 15 of the 32 states had decriminalized abortion. [159] |
| Micronesia | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. The law may vary by jurisdiction. |
| Moldova | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Monaco | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape, incest, and fetal diagnosis. |
| Mongolia | Legal | Gestational limit of 90 days or 3 months. |
| Montenegro | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Mozambique | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Myanmar | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Myanmar | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Namibia | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape, incest, and fetal diagnosis. |
| Nauru | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape, incest, and fetal diagnosis. |
| Nepal | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Netherlands | Legal | No limit on pre-viability abortion. |
| New Caledonia | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| New Zealand | Legal | Gestational limit of 20 weeks. |
| Nicaragua | Full ban | |
| Niger | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of fetal diagnosis. |
| Nigeria | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| North Korea | Legal | Law does not indicate a gestational limit. |
| North Macedonia | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Northern Ireland | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Norway | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Oman | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Pakistan | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Palau | Full ban | |
| Palestine | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Panama | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to save the life of the pregnant person and in cases of rape and fetal diagnosis. |
| Papua New Guinea | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Paraguay | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Peru | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Philippines | Full ban | |
| Poland | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape and incest. |
| Portugal | Legal | Gestational limit of 10 weeks. |
| Qatar | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of fetal diagnosis. |
| Romania | Legal | Gestational limit of 14 weeks. |
| Russia | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Rwanda | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions for pregnant minors, in cases of rape, incest, and forced marriage, and if the pregnancy risks the health of the pregnant person or fetus. |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Saint Lucia | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape and incest. |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and fetal diagnosis. |
| Samoa | Ban with exception | Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person. |
| San Mario | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| São Tomé & Príncipe | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Saudi Arabia | Ban with exception | Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person. Spousal or parental authorization is required. |
| Scotland | Legal before viability | Gestational limit of 24 weeks. Doctors in Great Britain are required to ask if the pregnancy will involve greater risk than termination, cause grave injury to the pregnant person or risk their life, or if there is risk to the child. Verification of the pregnant person’s answers is not required and a liberal definition of "risk" is generally applied, including but not limited to the general fact that abortion carries less risk to the pregnant person than childbirth. [162] |
| Senegal | Full ban | |
| Serbia | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Seychelles | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape, incest, and fetal diagnosis. |
| Sierra Leone | Full ban | |
| Singapore | Legal | Gestational limit of 24 weeks. |
| Slovak Republic | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Slovenia | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Somalia | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Solomon Islands | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| South Africa | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| South Korea | Legal | Gestational limits vary by jurisdiction. |
| South Sudan | Ban with exception | exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Spain | Legal | Gestational limit of 14 weeks. |
| Sri Lanka | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Sudan | Ban with exceptions | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape. |
| Suriname | Full ban | |
| Sweden | Legal | Gestational limit of 18 weeks. |
| Switzerland | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Syria | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. Spousal or parental authorization required. |
| Taiwan | Legal before viability | |
| Tajikistan | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Tanzania | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Thailand | Legal | Gestational limit of 20 weeks. |
| Timor-Leste | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Togo | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape, incest, and fetal diagnosis. |
| Tonga | Full ban | |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Ban with exception | Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person. |
| Tunisia | Legal | Gestational limit of 90 days or 3 months. |
| Turkey | Legal | Gestational limit of 10 weeks. |
| Turkmenistan | Legal | Gestational limit of 5 weeks. |
| Tuvalu | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Uganda | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Ukraine | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| United Arab Emirates | Ban with exceptions | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person, and in cases of fetal diagnosis. Spousal or parental authorization required. |
| Uruguay | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Uzbekistan | Legal | Gestational limit of 12 weeks. |
| Vanuatu | Ban with exception | Exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person. |
| Venezuela | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. |
| Vietnam | Legal | Law does not indicate a gestational limit. |
| Vietnam | Legal | Law does not indicate a gestational limit. |
| Wales | Legal before viability | Gestational limit of 24 weeks. Doctors in Great Britain are required to ask if the pregnancy will involve greater risk than termination, cause grave injury to the pregnant person or risk their life, or if there is risk to the child. Verification of the pregnant person’s answers is not required and a liberal definition of "risk" is generally applied, including but not limited to the general fact that statistically abortion carries less risk to the pregnant person than childbirth. [162] |
| Yemen | Ban with exception | Exception to save the life of the pregnant person. Spousal or parental authorization required. |
| Zambia | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions for pregnant minors, in cases of rape, incest, and forced marriage, and if the pregnancy risks the physical or mental health of the pregnant person or fetus. The law is generally considered liberal with the expectation of a definition of "risk" that includes but is not limited to the general fact that statistically abortion carries less risk to the pregnant person than childbirth. |
| Zimbabwe | Ban with exceptions | Exceptions to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person, and in cases of rape, incest, and fetal diagnosis |
Religious Views on Legal Abortion
| Pro | Not Clearly Pro or Con | Con |
|---|---|---|
| Buddhism | Evangelical Lutheran Church in America | Assemblies of God |
| Evangelical Lutheran Church in America | Judaism | Catholic Church |
| Episcopal Church | National Baptist Convention | Greek Orthodox |
| Presbyterian Church USA | Seventh-Day Adventist Church | Hinduism |
| Unitarian Universalist Association | United Methodist Church | Islam |
| United Church of Christ | Jehovah’s Witnesses | |
| Southern Baptist Convention |
The churches listed as pro are in favor of abortion being a legal option, rather than being pro the procedure itself.
Pro: Buddhism
Buddhism does consider abortion to be the taking of a human life. At the same time, Buddhists generally are reluctant to intervene in a woman’s personal decision to terminate a pregnancy. Buddhism may discourage abortion, but it also discourages imposing rigid moral absolutes.
This may seem contradictory. In our culture, many think that if something is morally wrong it ought to be banned. However, the Buddhist view is that the rigid following of rules is not what makes us moral. Furthermore, imposing authoritative rules often creates a new set of moral wrongs …
[As Buddhist nun] Karma Lekshe Tsomo writes, ‘In the end, most Buddhists recognize the incongruity that exists between ethical theory and actual practice and, while they do not condone the taking of life, do advocate understanding and compassion toward all living beings, a loving kindness that is nonjudgmental and respects the right and freedom of human beings to make their own choices.’ [203]
Pro: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
A developing life in the womb does not have an absolute right to be born, nor does a pregnant woman have an absolute right to terminate a pregnancy. The concern for both the life of the woman and the developing life in her womb expresses a common commitment to life. This requires that we move beyond the usual ‘prolife’ versus ‘pro-choice’ language in discussing abortion...
Because we believe that God is the creator of life, the number of induced abortions is a source of deep concern to this church. We mourn the loss of life that God has created. The strong Christian presumption is to preserve and protect life. Abortion ought to be an option only of last resort. Therefore, as a church we seek to reduce the need to turn to abortion as the answer to unintended pregnancies...
Because of our conviction that both the life of the woman and the life in her womb must be respected by law, this church opposes:
Pro: Episcopal Church
All human life is sacred from its inception until death. The Church takes seriously its obligation to help form the consciences of its members concerning this sacredness...
We regard all abortion as having a tragic dimension, calling for the concern and compassion of all the Christian community.
While we acknowledge that in this country it is the legal right of every woman to have a medically safe abortion, as Christians we believe strongly that if this right is exercised, it should be used only in extreme situations. We emphatically oppose abortion as a means of birth control, family planning, sex selection, or any reason of mere convenience.
In those cases where an abortion is being considered, members of this Church are urged to seek the dictates of their conscience in prayer, to seek the advice and counsel of members of the Christian community and where appropriate, the sacramental life of this Church...
Resolved, That this 71st General Convention of the Episcopal Church express its unequivocal opposition to any legislative, executive or judicial action on the part of local, state or national governments that abridges the right of a woman to reach an informed decision about the termination of pregnancy or that would limit the access of a woman to safe means of acting on her decision. [205]
Pro: Presbyterian Church USA
Presbyterians have struggled with the issue of abortion for more than 30 years, beginning in 1970 when the General Assembly, the national governing body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), declared that ‘the artificial or induced termination of a pregnancy is a matter of careful ethical decision of the patient...and therefore should not be restricted by law’...
The considered decision of a woman to terminate a pregnancy can be a morally acceptable, though certainly not the only or required, decision. Possible justifying circumstances would include medical indications of severe physical or mental deformity, conception as a result of rape or incest, or conditions under which the physical or mental health of either woman or child would be gravely threatened.
We are disturbed by abortions that seem to be elected only as a convenience or ease embarrassment. We affirm that abortion should not be used as a method of birth control.
Abortion is not morally acceptable for gender selection only or solely to obtain fetal parts for transplantation.
We reject the use of violence and/or abusive language either in protest of or in support of abortion.
The strong Christian presumption is that since all life is precious to God, we are to preserve and protect it. Abortion ought to be an option of last resort.
The Christian community must be concerned about and address the circumstances that bring a woman to consider abortion as the best available option. Poverty, unjust societal realities, sexism, racism, and inadequate supportive relationships may render a woman virtually powerless to choose freely. [206]
Pro: Unitarian Universalist Association
BECAUSE, Unitarian Universalists believe that the inherent worth and dignity of every person, the right of individual conscience, and respect for human life are inalienable rights due every person; and that the personal right to choose in regard to contraception and abortion is an important aspect of these rights; and
BECAUSE, we believe in tolerance and compassion for persons whose choices may differ from our own; and
BECAUSE, we believe not only in the value of life itself but also in the quality of life; and
WHEREAS, pain, suffering, and loss of life were widespread prior to the legalization of abortion in 1973 by the U.S. Supreme Court (Roe v. Wade) and the 1969 amendments to the Criminal Code of Canada;
WHEREAS, the issue of abortion is morally complex, abortion must remain a legal option; and
WHEREAS, attempts are now being made to restrict access to birth control and abortion by overriding individual decisions of conscience, and attacks in legislatures, courts, and the streets often result in depriving poor women of their right to medical care; and such legislation is an infringement of the principle of separation of church and state in that it tries to enact private morality into public law; and
WHEREAS, there is a movement to re-criminalize abortion both for women and their health-care providers which could bring back dangerous alternatives to clinically safe abortions;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the 1987 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association reaffirms its historic position, supporting the right to choose contraception and abortion as legitimate aspects of the right to privacy…
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED: That we reaffirm the right to choose contraception and abortion as a legitimate expression of our constitutional rights. [207]
Pro: United Church of Christ
God has given us life, and life is sacred and good. God has also given us the responsibility to make decisions which reflect a reverence for life in circumstances when conflicting realities are present. Jesus affirmed women as full partners in the faith, capable of making decisions that affect their lives...
The United Church of Christ has affirmed and re-affirmed since 1971 that access to safe and legal abortion is consistent with a woman’s right to follow the dictates of her own faith and beliefs in determining when and if she should have children, and it has supported comprehensive sexuality education as one measure to prevent unwanted or unplanned pregnancies, and to create healthy and responsible sexual persons and relationships. [208]
Not Clearly Pro or Con: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
“Human life is a sacred gift from God. Elective abortion for personal or social convenience is contrary to the will and the commandments of God. Church members who submit to, perform, encourage, pay for, or arrange for such abortions may lose their membership in the Church...
Church leaders have said that some exceptional circumstances may justify an abortion, such as when pregnancy is the result of incest or rape, when the life or health of the mother is judged by competent medical authority to be in serious jeopardy, or when the fetus is known by competent medical authority to have severe defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth. But even these circumstances do not automatically justify an abortion. Those who face such circumstances should consider abortion only after consulting with their local Church leaders and receiving a confirmation through earnest prayer. [209]
Not Clearly Pro or Con: Judaism
“While Judaism takes a far less stringent approach to abortion than do many pro-life denominations of Christianity, providing explicit exceptions for threats to a mother’s life and rabbinic support for terminating a pregnancy in a host of other situations, there is nonetheless broad objection to abortion in cases without serious cause. In addition, despite the consensus that abortion is permitted in cases where continuing the pregnancy poses a threat to the life of the mother, there is disagreement over just what constitutes a threat.
Jewish law does not share the belief common among abortion opponents that life begins at conception, nor does it legally consider the fetus to be a full person deserving of protections equal those accorded to human beings. In Jewish law, a fetus attains the status of a full person only at birth...
As a public policy matter, many of the major American Jewish organizations have been vocal in support of broadening or protecting abortion access. Orthodox organizations, however, do not support broad legal protections for abortion. [210]
Not Clearly Pro or Con: National Baptist Convention
“[F]or the National Baptist Convention, a historically black Protestant denomination in the U.S., church policy is to allow each individual congregation to determine its views on abortion. [211]
Not Clearly Pro or Con: Seventh-day Adventist Church
“The Seventh-day Adventist Church considers abortion out of harmony with God’s plan for human life. It affects the unborn, the mother, the father, immediate and extended family members, the church family, and society with long-term consequences for all. Believers aim to trust God and follow His will for them, knowing He has their best interests in mind.
While not condoning abortion, the Church and its members are called to follow the example of Jesus, being “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14), to (1) create an atmosphere of true love and provide grace-filled, biblical pastoral care and loving support to those facing difficult decisions regarding abortion; (2) enlist the help of well-functioning and committed families and educate them to provide care for struggling individuals, couples, and families; (3) encourage church members to open their homes to those in need, including single parents, parentless children, and adoptive or foster care children; (4) care deeply for and support in various ways pregnant women who decide to keep their unborn children; and (5) provide emotional and spiritual support to those who have aborted a child for various reasons or were forced to have an abortion and may be hurting physically, emotionally, and/or spiritually. [212]
Not Clearly Pro or Con: United Methodist Church
“Our belief in the sanctity of unborn human life makes us reluctant to approve abortion.
But we are equally bound to respect the sacredness of the life and well-being of the mother and the unborn child...
It’s important to note that the Church’s statements on social issues, such as abortion, represent the effort of the General Conference to speak to human issues in the contemporary world from a sound biblical and theological foundation. They are intended to be instructive and persuasive, but they are not church law and are not binding on members. Members will hold differing views on abortion. There is no requirement for members to agree with the Church’s view. [213]
Con: Assemblies of God
“Abortion. The Assemblies of God views the practice of abortion as an evil that has been inflicted upon millions of innocent babies and that will threaten millions more in the years to come. Abortion is a morally unacceptable alternative for birth control, population control, sex selection, and elimination of the physically and mentally handicapped. Certain parts of the world are already experiencing serious population imbalances as a result of the systematic abortion of female babies. [214]
Con: Catholic Church
“I henceforth grant to all priests, in virtue of their ministry, the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of procured abortion. The provision I had made in this regard, limited to the duration of the Extraordinary Holy Year, is hereby extended, notwithstanding anything to the contrary. I wish to restate as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life. In the same way, however, I can and must state that there is no sin that God’s mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be reconciled with the Father. May every priest, therefore, be a guide, support and comfort to penitents on this journey of special reconciliation. [215]
Con: Greek Orthodox
“The Orthodox Church has a definite, formal and intended attitude toward abortion. It condemns all procedures purporting to abort the embryo or fetus, whether by surgical or chemical means. The Orthodox Church brands abortion as murder; that is, as a premeditated termination of the life of a human being. The only time the Orthodox Church will reluctantly acquiesce to abortion is when the preponderance of medical opinion determines that unless the embryo or fetus is aborted, the mother will die. Decisions of the Supreme Court and State legislatures by which abortion, with or without restrictions, is allowed should be viewed by practicing Christians as an affront to their beliefs in the sanctity of life. [216]
Con: Hinduism
“Hindus consider children a gift from God. Conception, development and birth of a child are sacred events, honored by a ceremony, or samskara, marking these rites of passage. Today’s medical technology has developed many means for conceiving children. Hindus have a general unwillingness to interfere with nature and a special aversion to abortion, based on the belief in reincarnation and the sanctity of marriage...Hindu scripture and tradition clearly prohibit abortion, except to save the life of the mother...Multiple births are rare, except when a couple is undergoing fertility treatments, which may result in multiple fetuses, creating a potentially dangerous condition for the mother. Under the principle that abortion is allowed to save the mother’s life. [217]
Con: Islam
“Rule 1: In Islam, it is forbidden (haram) to abort the fetus…
Rule 2: If the child was to die while in the womb of the mother, then it is obligatory to remove it from the womb.
Rule 3: If the pregnancy is a danger to the life of the mother or would result in her become handicapped, then it is permissible for her to abort the child before the time when the soul has been infused into the body.
However it is not permissible to abort the child once the soul has come into the body and the fetus starts to move (inside the womb) and the mother must carefully watch over and give special attention to the child inside her and must make sure that it is brought into the world at the appropriate time.
Rule 4: If the child which has been aborted was four months old or more, then it must be given the Ghusl-e-Mayyit and must also be provided with a Kafan (burial shroud) and must be buried. In addition, anyone that touched the body of the child (such as the mother, grand mother, or others who were taking care of the mother) must perform a Ghusl of Mass-e-Mayyit.
If the child was less than four months old, then it must be wrapped in cloth, and without giving it a Ghusl, it must be buried. If anyone has touched the body of the child, then it is better that they too perform the Ghusl (of Mass-e-Mayyit). [218]
Con: Jehovah’s Witnesses
“The Bible does not use the word ‘abortion’ in the sense of an induced expulsion of a human fetus. However, many Bible verses provide God’s view of human life, including that of an unborn child.
Life is a gift from God. (Genesis 9:6; Psalm 36:9) He considers all life to be precious, including the life of a child in the womb. So if someone intentionally kills an unborn child, that amounts to murder...
In view of what the Bible says about the life of an unborn child, a person would not be justified in having an abortion because of a potential health risk to mother or child.
What about the rare situation where at the time of childbirth an emergency forces the choice between saving the life of the mother or saving the baby? In such a case, those involved would have to make a personal decision about which life to try to save. [219]
Con: Southern Baptist Convention
“RESOLVED, That we affirm the full dignity of every unborn child and denounce every act of abortion except to save the mother’s physical life; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we affirm the full dignity of every human being, whether or not any political, legal, or medical authority considers a human being possessive of ‘viable’ life regardless of cognitive or physical disability, and denounce every act that would wrongly limit the life of any human at any stage or state of life. [220]