Maximum number of abortions in Switzerland
Published: Thursday, Jul 4th 2024, 14:10
Updated At: Thursday, Jul 4th 2024, 14:30
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The number of abortions in Switzerland rose to a new high in 2023. There were a total of 12,045 abortions, 6.2% more than in the previous year. There were 7.3 abortions per 1,000 women aged between 15 and 44. The number has been rising since 2017 after many years of decline.
The abortion rate among 15 to 19-year-old women remained stable compared to the previous year at 3.3 pregnancies per 1,000 women, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) on Thursday. For all 15 to 44-year-old women, this rate was still 7 per 1,000 in 2022.
In 2023, 57% of women were over 30 years old at the time of abortion. Ten years ago, this figure was 48%, which shows the trend towards later motherhood. Across the country, there were 70 abortions among young people under the age of 16.
At 95%, most abortions took place within the statutory period of the first twelve weeks. In the remaining 5 percent, a medical diagnosis of the foetus or psychosocial factors were the decisive factor. 77 percent of abortions took place in the first eight weeks.
Nationwide, medication abortions outnumbered surgical abortions by 81%. In seven cantons (GL, LU, NE, NW, OW, SO, UR), the medical method exceeded 90 percent. In Geneva and Fribourg, the figure was 60 percent, as in the previous year. The highest number of abortions (3055) was recorded in the canton of Zurich, followed by Vaud (1781) and Bern (1376). Appenzell-Innerrhoden reported no abortions.
Swiss women accounted for 55.7 percent of abortions last year, foreign women for 41.5 percent. The nationality of the others was unknown. Last year, the FSO registered 147.2 abortions per 1000 live births. In the previous year, the figure was 135.6.
©Keystone/SDA
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