Abortion legislation

Legislation timeline

  • 1970: abortion is allowed
  • 1973: Act No. 350 (13 June)
  • 1995: Law No. 389 (14 June)
  • 2008: LBK No.95 (07 February)

Source: IPPF European Network - Updated January 2012 (http://www.ippfen.org/), Foreningen Sex & Samfund (http://www.sexogsamfund.dk/)

Abortion conditions

Ground Gestational limit
To save a woman’s life 22 weeks from LMP
Because foetal impairment 22 weeks from LMP
To preserve a woman’s mental health
To preserve a woman’s physical health
For economic and social reasons
On request 12 weeks from LMP

Source: IPPF European Network - Updated January 2012 (http://www.ippfen.org/), Foreningen Sex & Samfund (http://www.sexogsamfund.dk/)

Legal conditions

  • Written request by the woman up to 12 weeks from LMP
  • Pre-abortion consultation (legal counselling)
  • Pre-abortion consultation with a social worker (if abortion after 12 weeks from LMP)
  • Pre-abortion confirmation consultation
  • Pre-abortion laboratory tests (if abortion after 12 weeks from LMP)

Specific conditions for minors

  • Parent’s (or guardian’s) consent required for unmarried minors under 18; possibility of dispensation e.g., in case of religious minorities.

Practical conditions

Medical abortion conditions

Place Prescription 1st drug taken 2nd drug taken
OB/GYN department of a hospital/clinic Yes Yes Yes
Another physician office Yes Yes Yes
Midwife office No No No
Abortion centre/clinic
At home No Yes Yes

Source: IPPF European Network - Updated January 2012 (http://www.ippfen.org/), Foreningen Sex & Samfund (http://www.sexogsamfund.dk/)

Mandatory pre-abortion examinations

  • Ultrasound examination mandatory after 12 weeks from LMP in order to assess the precise gestational age to obtain permission for abortion.

Involved healthcare professionals

  • Surgical abortion: obstetrician/gynaecologist (OB/GYN)
  • Medical abortion: OB/GYN or nurse

Abortion statistics

Abortion rates per 1.000 women aged 15-49

Source: https://thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics-and-data/statistics-by-topic/sexual-and-reproductive-health/abortions/induced-abortions-in-the-nordic-countries

Overall number of induced abortions

Source: https://thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics/statistics-by-topic/sexual-and-reproductive-health/abortions/induced-abortions-in-the-nordic-countries

Abortion ratio per 1.000 live births: 231 (2018)

Source: https://thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics/statistics-by-topic/sexual-and-reproductive-health/abortions/induced-abortions-in-the-nordic-countries

Abortions performed “on request”: % ()

Source:

Overall number of induced abortions vs. medical abortions

Source: Data provided by our local expert

The number of medical abortions was calculated on a percentage basis of the overall number of induced abortions.

Induced abortions per gestational age

Source: https://thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics-and-data/statistics-by-topic/sexual-and-reproductive-health/abortions/induced-abortions-in-the-nordic-countries

Data from 2018

Place of abortion

Source: Data provided by our local expert

Data from 2018

Characteristics of women having induced abortion

Abortion rate per 1,000 women according to age

Source: https://thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics-and-data/statistics-by-topic/sexual-and-reproductive-health/abortions/induced-abortions-in-the-nordic-countries

Fertility and contraception

Fertility rates in women aged 15-49

Source: https://www.dst.dk/en/Statistik/emner/borgere/befolkning/fertilitet

Women age at first birth

  • 29.8 years of age (2021)

 

Country-specific characteristics

  • Women have to submit a written request for abortion up to 12 weeks from LMP.
  • All health care professionals (HCPs) have the right to conscientiously object due to moral beliefs, but they have a duty to refer the woman to another HCP who may conduct the abortion.
  • Both surgical and medical abortions are free of charge for resident women. Non-resident women have to pay around €1,608.

Download statistics of Denmark

The statistics presented are freely accessible and may be used, copied, displayed or distributed provided that their source is given. You can choose whether you prefer to download the statistics of the last 10 years or the full data set. Press one of the buttons to generate a report in PDF format for this country.

Last 10 years
Full data set

Abbreviations

  • EFTA = European Free Trade Association
  • EU = European Union
  • IUD = intra-uterine device
  • LARC = long-acting reversible contraception
  • LMP = last menstruation period
  • GYN = gynaecologist
  • HCP = health care professional
  • hCG = human chorionic gonadotropin
  • HIV = human immunodeficiency virus
  • OB = obstetrician
  • Rh = Rhesus
  • US = ultrasound

References

  • IPPF European Network – Updated January 2012 (http://www.ippfen.org/)
  • Foreningen Sex & Samfund (http://www.sexogsamfund.dk/)

A special thanks to our correspondents for contributing in data collection.
Please contact info@exelgyn.com if you have additional data or would like to comment information

Page last updated: 6 June 2023