Abortion legislation

Legislation timeline

  • 1975: Abortion is allowed (Abortlagen 1974:595 dated 12 June 1974)
  • 1995: Abortlagen 1995:660
  • 2007: Abortlagen 2007:998
  • 2009: Abortlagen Sfs_2009/10:842

Source: https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/Dokument-Lagar/Lagar/Svenskforfattningssamling/Abortlag-1974595_sfs-1974-595/

Abortion conditions

Ground Gestational limit
To save a woman’s life 21 weeks and 6 days from LMP
Because of foetal impairment Until viability (21 weeks and 6 days from LMP)
To preserve a woman’s mental health
To preserve a woman’s physical health
For economic and social reasons
On request 18 weeks from LMP

Source: https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/Dokument-Lagar/Lagar/Svenskforfattningssamling/Abortlag-1974595_sfs-1974-595/

Legal conditions

  • Pre-abortion consultation (legal counselling) offered but not mandatory; strongly recommended to give information and contraceptive counselling.

Specific conditions for minors

  • Parent’s (or guardian’s) should be informed but should not delay the abortion.

Source:

  • https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/Dokument-Lagar/Lagar/Svenskforfattningssamling/Abortlag-1974595_sfs-1974-595/
  • https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/Dokument-Lagar/Lagar/Svenskforfattningssamling/Abortlag-1974595_sfs-1974-595/

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: Board of Health and Welfare 2004

Mandatory pre-abortion examinations

  • None

Involved healthcare professionals

  • Surgical abortion: obstetrician/gynaecologist (OB/GYN)
  • Medical abortion: OB/GYN or midwife with training.

Source:

  • www.riksdagen.se/sv/Dokument-Lagar/Lagar/Svenskforfattningssamling/Abortlag-1974595_sfs-1974-595/

Abortion statistics

Abortion rates per 1,000 women aged 15-44

Source: https://www.socialstyrelsen.se/statistik-och-data/statistik/alla-statistikamnen/aborter/

Overall number of induced abortions

Source: https://www.socialstyrelsen.se/statistik-och-data/statistik/alla-statistikamnen/aborter/

Abortion ratio per 1.000 live births: 306 (2020)

Source: https://www.socialstyrelsen.se/statistik-och-data/statistik/alla-statistikamnen/graviditeter-forlossningar-och-nyfodda/

Abortions performed “on request”: 99% (2020)

Source: Data provided by our local expert

Abortions on request can be carried out up to week 18+0

Overall number of induced abortions vs. medical abortions

Source: https://www.socialstyrelsen.se/statistik-och-data/statistik/alla-statistikamnen/aborter/

Induced abortions per gestational age (2021)

Source: https://www.socialstyrelsen.se/statistik-och-data/statistik/alla-statistikamnen/aborter/

Place of abortion (2021)

Source: https://www.socialstyrelsen.se/statistik-och-data/statistik/alla-statistikamnen/aborter/

In 2021, 86% of abortions before 9 weeks were at-home abortions using misoprostol.

Characteristics of women having induced abortion

Abortion rate per 1,000 women according to age (2021)

Source: https://www.socialstyrelsen.se/statistik-och-data/statistik/alla-statistikamnen/aborter/

In 2021, among women who had induced abortion:

  • 46% had at least 1 previous induced abortion.

Source:

Fertility and contraception

Fertility rates in women aged 15-49

Source: https://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/population/population-composition/population-statistics/

Women age at first birth

  • 31 years of age (2021)

Contraception during abortion process

  • Implants on mife day, miso day or follow up later, IUDs placed within one week or at later FU or directly after MA Directly after surgical

Source:

  • https://www.socialstyrelsen.se/statistik-och-data/statistik/alla-statistikamnen/graviditeter-forlossningar-och-nyfodda/
  • Sääv et al., 20012 Kopp kallner et al., 2017

Country-specific characteristics

  • Legal counselling is not mandatory.
  • Health care practitioners (HCPs) cannot conscientiously object.
  • Both surgical and medical abortions are free of charge for resident women. Non-resident women have to pay around €420.

Source:

  • www.riksdagen.se/sv/Dokument-Lagar/Lagar/Svenskforfattningssamling/Abortlag-1974595_sfs-1974-595/

Download statistics of Sweden

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: 4 July 2023