A review of abortion in Ireland

Induced abortion is an international issue that encompasses medical, legal, emotional, personal and psychological domains. In 2003, the total number of induced abortions worldwide was 41.6 million, compared to 46 million in 1995. Most abortions occur in developing countries (35 million) rather than in developed countries (seven million), which is reflective of the relative population distribution. The average annual rate at which women chose to end unwanted pregnancies in 2003 was similar in developed and developing regions, i.e., 26 per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years in the developing world and 29 per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years in developed countries. Despite significant differences in legislation on abortion across the globe, the stringency of laws does not seem to affect incidence. The estimated abortion rate in Europe, where abortion is legal in the majority of countries, is 28 per 1,000 women, whereas the rate in Africa, where abortion is illegal in most countries, is roughly 29 per 1,000 women. Western and northern Europe boast the lowest rates of abortion in the world (12 and 17 per 1,000 women, respectively), even though access to induced abortion is unrestricted in most cases.