NEW 2020 DATA
Abortion legislation | Practical conditions | Abortion statistics
Characteristics of women having induced abortion | Fertility and contraception data | Country-specific characteristics
1950: abortion is legalized in former communist Eastern Germany (German Democratic Republic, GDR)
1976: abortion is allowed (Former Federal Republic of Germany, FRG): 1976; revised version §218
1992: new Law after reunification of West and East Germany (27 July)
1993: transitional legal regulations
1995: Law “Schwangeren- und Familienhilfeänderungsgesetz” (21 August)
2010: changes concerning medical grounds.

Specific conditions due to COVID-19
- Allowing counselling to be available via phone with a digital certification of the consultation

Legal conditions
- Pre-abortion consultation (legal counselling) except in case of rape.The counselling must take place at a state-approved centre, which differs from the abortion centre.
- Written consent by the woman
- Mandatory 3-day period between pre-abortion consultation and abortion procedure
Specific conditions for minors
- Parent’s (or guardian’s) consent required for minors under 18 unless minors are considered to have sufficient decision-making ability.
Abortion legislation | Practical conditions | Abortion statistics | Characteristics of women having induced abortion
Fertility and contraception data | Country-specific characteristics
The slides presented are freely accessible. They may be used, copied, displayed or distributed provided that their source is given
SOURCES
COVID measures taken from the article by Bojovic N, Stanisljevic J, Giunti G. The impact of COVID-19 on abortion access: Insights from the European Union and the United Kingdom. Health Policy. 2021 Jul;125(7):841-858.
PRO FAMILIA Bundesverband (https://www.profamilia.de/)
Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung BZgA (Federal Centre for Health Education) (http://www.familienplanung.de/beratung/schwangerschaftsabbruch/)
Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend (BMFSFJ) (https://www.bmfsfj.de/bmfsfj/72628!search?query=Schwangerschaftsabbruch&newSearch=true)
The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) (https://www.bmfsfj.de/blob/95278/356f87878e2f128eb9aa85c1451430fb/schwangerschaftsberatung—218-englisch-data.pdf)
https://www.destatis.de/EN/Themes/Society-Environment/Health/Abortions/_node.html#sprg267080
https://www.destatis.de/EN/Press/2021/03/PE21_144_233.html
https://www.destatis.de/EN/Themes/Society-Environment/Population/Births/_node.html#sprg267498
https://www.gbe-bund.de/gbe/pkg_glossar.prc_glossar?p_sprache=E&p_lfdnr=1299&p_aid=97208899&p_uid=gast
We thank Dr. Ines THONKE for her help in data collection.
If you have additional data or if you would like to comment some information, please contact info@exelgyn.com.
Page updated in January 2022