Abortion legislation

Legislation timeline

  • 1955: abortion is allowed (Soviet Union decree)
  • 1994: Decree of the Lithuanian Ministry of Health

Source: http://www.ippfen.org/, http://www.tavogyvenimas.lt/

Abortion conditions

Ground Gestational limit
To save a woman’s life 22 weeks from LMP
Because of 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: http://www.ippfen.org/, http://www.tavogyvenimas.lt/

Legal conditions

  • Written consent by the woman
  • Pre-abortion consultation (legal counselling)
  • Pre-abortion confirmation consultation
  • Pre-abortion laboratory tests
  • Post-abortion consultation 1 week after the abortion procedure
  • Contraception evoked during at least 1 of the medical consultations, recommended and prescribed after the procedure.

Specific conditions for minors

  • Parents (or guardians) attending and parents’ (or guardians’) signature for abortion confirmation required for minors under 16.

Source:

  • IPPF European Network – http://www.ippfen.org/
  • Šeimos Planavimoir Seksualinės Sveikatos Asociācija (FPSHA) (http://www.tavogyvenimas.lt/)

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
Midwife office
Abortion centre/clinic
At home

Source: http://www.ippfen.org/, http://www.tavogyvenimas.lt/

Medical abortion conditions not applicable in Lithuania (medical abortion is not defined by law; only used with clinical recommendations for fœtal impairment or woman's health and life safety with strict indications)

Mandatory pre-abortion examinations

  • Blood group and rhesus factor
  • Serological tests (HIV, hepatitis)
  • Tests to exclude Sexually Transmitted Infections
  • Ultrasound
  • Cervical smear

Involved healthcare professionals

  • Surgical abortion: obstetrician/gynaecologist (OB/GYN)
  • Medical abortion: conditions not applicable in Lithuania (medical abortion is not defined by law; only used with clinical recommendations for fœtal impairment or woman’s health and life safety with strict indications)

Source:

  • IPPF European Network – http://www.ippfen.org/
  • Šeimos Planavimoir Seksualinės Sveikatos Asociācija (FPSHA) (http://www.tavogyvenimas.lt/)

Abortion statistics

Abortion rates per 1,000 women aged 15-49

Source: https://osp.stat.gov.lt/statistiniu-rodikliu-analize?indicator=S3R699#/

induced abortions (on request and due to therapeutic indications)

Overall number of induced abortions

Source: https://osp.stat.gov.lt/statistiniu-rodikliu-analize?indicator=S3R096#/

on request and due to therapeutic indications

Abortion ratio per 1.000 live births: 123 (2022)

Source: https://osp.stat.gov.lt/statistiniu-rodikliu-analize?indicator=S3R096#/

Abortions performed “on request”: 94% (2022)

Source: https://osp.stat.gov.lt/statistiniu-rodikliu-analize?indicator=S3R096#/

Overall number of induced abortions vs. medical abortions

Source:

Not applicable

Induced abortions per gestational age ()

Unfortunately we have no data for this country.

Source:

Place of abortion ()

Unfortunately we have no data for this country.

Source:

Characteristics of women having induced abortion

Distribution of induced abortions according to woman age (2022)

Source: https://osp.stat.gov.lt/statistiniu-rodikliu-analize?indicator=S3R096#/

Induced abortions on request and due to therapeutic indications (account for 94% of all abortions)

Source:

Fertility and contraception

Fertility rates in women aged 15-49

Source: https://osp.stat.gov.lt/statistiniu-rodikliu-analize?indicator=S3R096#/

Women age at first birth

  • 28.2 years of age (2022)

Source:

  • https://osp.stat.gov.lt/statistiniu-rodikliu-analize?indicator=S3R096#/

Country-specific characteristics

  • Pre-abortion consultation is offered by psychologist, not available to all women
  • Mandatory post-abortion consultation 1 week after the abortion procedure
  • All health care professionnals (HCPs) have the right to conscientiously object. Physicians can refuse to perform surgical abortion due to their Catholic beliefs.
  • Abortion is reimbursed to resident women when performed due to medical reasons only.
  • Resident women have to pay around €250 for surgical abortion “on request”.
  • Non-resident women have to pay around €500 for surgical abortion.

Source:

  • IPPF European Network – http://www.ippfen.org/
  • Šeimos Planavimoir Seksualinės Sveikatos Asociācija (FPSHA) (http://www.tavogyvenimas.lt/)

Download statistics of Lithuania

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: 1 March 2024