Religious texts often contained severe condemnations of abortion, recommending penance but seldom enforcing secular punishment.
The harshest penalties were generally reserved for a woman who procured an abortion against her husband's wishes, and for slaves who produced abortion in a woman of high status. When it does appear, it is entailed in concerns about male property rights, preservation of social order, and the duty to produce fit citizens for the state or community. Early texts contain no mention of abortion or abortion law. The earliest known records of abortion techniques and general reproductive regulation date as far back as 2700 BC in China and 1550 BC in Egypt. JSTOR ( July 2017) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Ībortion has existed since ancient times, with natural abortifacients being found amongst a wide variety of tribal people and in most written sources.Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. This section needs additional citations for verification. Almost two-thirds of the world's women currently reside in countries where abortion may be obtained on request for a broad range of social, economic, or personal reasons. Īlso according to the WHO, the number of abortions worldwide is declining due to increased access to contraception. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), abortion rates are similar in countries where the procedure is legal and in countries where it is not, due to unavailability of modern contraceptives in areas where abortion is illegal. Though it has been banned and otherwise limited by law in many jurisdictions, abortions continue to be common in many areas, even where they are illegal. Many countries that allow abortion have gestational limits for the procedure depending on the reason with the majority being up to 12 weeks for abortion on request, up to 24 weeks for rape, incest, or socioeconomic reasons, and more for fetal impairment or threats to the woman's health or life.Ībortion continues to be a controversial subject in many societies on religious, moral, ethical, practical, and political grounds. Such laws range from abortion being freely available on request, to regulation or restrictions of various kinds, to outright prohibition in all circumstances.
This map shows their combined effect as implemented by the authorities.Ībortion laws vary widely among countries and have changed over time. Note: In some countries or territories, abortion laws are modified by other laws, regulations, legal principles or judicial decisions. * Does not apply to some countries or territories in that category Risk to woman's life*, to her health*, or rape Risk to woman's life, to her health*, or fetal impairment Risk to woman's life, to her health*, rape, or fetal impairment Risk to woman's life, to her health*, rape*, fetal impairment*, or socioeconomic factors Gestational limit after the first 17 weeks Legality of abortion by country or territory Legal on request: