Abortion legislation

Legislation timeline

  • 1970: abortion is allowed (Law 239 dated 24 March)
  • 1978: Law No. 564 (19 July)
  • 1985: Law No. 572 (12 July)
  • 2001: Law No. 328
  • 2023: Abortion is legal and free of charge upon request in Finland in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy since 1 September 2023.

Source: https://www.finlex.fi/sv/laki/ajantasa/1970/19700239

Abortion conditions

Ground Gestational limit
To save a woman’s life No limit
Because of foetal impairment 24+0 weeks from LMP
To preserve a woman’s mental health No limit
To preserve a woman’s physical health No limit
For economic and social reasons 20+0 weeks from LMP
On request 12 weeks from LMP

Source: IPPF European Network - Updated January 2012 (http://www.ippfen.org/), Laki (24.3.1970/239) ja asetus (29.5.1970/359) raskauden keskeyttämisestä. Sosiaali- ja terveydenhuoltolainsäädäntö. Toim. H. Ranta, Kauppakaari Oyj, Gummerus, Jyväskylä 2000

Legal conditions

  • Written consent by the woman
  • In 2023, the requirement for approval of 2 doctors was deleted.
  • Pre-abortion consultation (legal counseling)
  • Pre-abortion laboratory tests
  • Contraception evoked during the medical consultation.

Specific conditions for minors

  • Specific counseling for minors under 16.
  • Social worker involved, parents (or guardians) never informed.

Source:

  • https://www.infofinland.fi/en/health/abortion

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 No No No
Midwife office No No No
Abortion centre/clinic
At home No No Yes

Source:

Mandatory pre-abortion examinations

  • Blood group and rhesus factor

Involved healthcare professionals

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

Source:

  • IPPF European Network – http://www.ippfen.org/

Abortion statistics

Abortion rates per 1,000 women aged 15-49

Source: https://thl.fi/en/statistics-and-data/statistics-by-topic/sexual-and-reproductive-health/abortions/induced-abortions

Overall number of induced abortions

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

Abortion ratio per 1.000 live births: 189.9 (2023)

Source: https://thl.fi/en/statistics-and-data/statistics-by-topic/database-reporting#Abortions

Abortions performed “on request”: 31.1% (2023)

Source: https://thl.fi/en/statistics-and-data/statistics-by-topic/database-reporting#Abortions

Overall number of induced abortions vs. medical abortions

Source: https://thl.fi/en/statistics-and-data/statistics-by-topic/database-reporting#Abortions

Induced abortions per gestational age (2023)

Source: https://thl.fi/en/statistics-and-data/statistics-by-topic/database-reporting#Abortions

Place of abortion (2023)

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

Characteristics of women having induced abortion

Distribution of induced abortions according to woman age (2023)

Source: https://thl.fi/en/statistics-and-data/statistics-by-topic/database-reporting#Abortions

In 2023, among women who had induced abortion:

  • 36.9% had at least 1 previous induced abortion
  • 51.8% had at least 1 child.

Source:

  • https://thl.fi/en/statistics-and-data/statistics-by-topic/database-reporting#Abortions

Fertility and contraception

Fertility rates in women aged 15-49

Source: https://stat.fi/en/publication/ckg0p0yyg007001637yufog6a

Women age at first birth

  • 30.2 years of age (2023)

Overall contraception data

In 2022:

  • 55.1% used oral contraceptive
  • 37.1% used intra-uterine device (IUD).

Pre-abortion contraception

  • In 2023, 61% of women who had abortion had a contraceptive method before abortion procedure.

Source:

  • https://thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics-and-data/statistics-by-topic/sexual-and-reproductive-health/parturients-deliveries-and-births/perinatal-statistics-parturients-delivers-and-newborns
  • https://thl.fi/en/statistics-and-data/statistics-by-topic/database-reporting#Abortions

Country-specific characteristics

  • Abortion request needs to be approved by 1 or 2 physicians or national authority (except when life is in danger).
  • Health care professionals (HCPs) do not have the right to conscientiously object.
  • Both surgical and medical abortions are reimbursed to resident women. They only have to pay 33 € for the consultation.

Source:

  • IPPF European Network – http://www.ippfen.org/

Download statistics of Finland

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

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: 16 December 2024