Abortion statistics of Switzerland

Abortion legislation

Legislation timeline

1942: abortion is allowed under strict medical conditions and handled very differently by region (Penal Code Act, articles 118-121 dated January)
2001: modifications of Penal Code Act, articles 118-121 (23 March)
2002: adoption of Penal Code Act, articles 118-121 (June)
2002: new law allowing abortion on request is effective (Penal Code Act, articles 118-120) (1 October)

Source: SEXUAL HEALTH Switzerland, former PLANeS (www.sante-sexuelle.ch)

Abortion conditions

Ground	Gestational limit
To save a woman’s life	No limit
Because of foetal impairment	No limit*
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**

* As fœtal impairment can affect the woman's physical and mental health ** The woman must express her distress (written request)

Source: SEXUAL HEALTH Switzerland, former PLANeS (www.sante-sexuelle.ch)

Legal conditions

Written consent by the woman
Pre-abortion consultation (legal counselling)

Specific conditions for minors

Pre-abortion specific counselling with a certified physician (“kantonsarzt”) for minors under 16
Parent’s (or guardian’s) consent required for minors under 16 incapable of discernment only.

Source:

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

SEXUAL HEALTH Switzerland, former PLANeS (www.sante-sexuelle.ch)

Practical conditions

Medical abortion conditions

Place	Prescription	1^st drug taken	2^nd 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	No	Yes

Source: SEXUAL HEALTH Switzerland, former PLANeS (www.sante-sexuelle.ch)

Mandatory pre-abortion examinations

None

Involved healthcare professionals

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

Source:

SEXUAL HEALTH Switzerland, former PLANeS (www.sante-sexuelle.ch)

Abortion statistics

Abortion rates per 1,000 women aged 15-44

Source: https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/fr/home/statistiques/sante/etat-sante/reproductive/interruptions-grossesses.html

Overall number of induced abortions

Source: https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/fr/home/statistiques/sante/etat-sante/reproductive/interruptions-grossesses.html

Abortion ratio per 1.000 live births: 121 (2021)

Source: https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/fr/home/statistiques/sante/etat-sante/reproductive/interruptions-grossesses.html

Abortions performed “on request”: % ()

Source:

Overall number of induced abortions vs. medical abortions

Source: https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/fr/home/statistiques/sante/etat-sante/reproductive/interruptions-grossesses.html

Induced abortions per gestational age (2021)

Source: https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/fr/home/statistiques/sante/etat-sante/reproductive/interruptions-grossesses.assetdetail.22906250.html

Place of abortion ()

Unfortunately we have no data for this country.

Source:

Characteristics of women having induced abortion

Distribution of induced abortion according to women age (2021)

Source: https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/fr/home/statistiques/sante/etat-sante/reproductive/interruptions-grossesses.assetdetail.22906248.html

In 2021, among women who had induced abortion:

98% lived in Switzerland

Source:

https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/fr/home/statistiques/sante/etat-sante/reproductive/interruptions-grossesses.html

Fertility and contraception

Fertility rates in women aged 15-49

Source: https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/fr/home/statistiques/population/naissances-deces.html

Women age at first birth

32,3 years of age (2021)

Overall contraception data

Contraceptive prevalence rate was 780*/1,000 women aged 15-49 in 2017
use of oral contraceptive: 270*/1,000
use of intra-uterine device (IUD): 117*/1,000

* in the last 12 months, sexually active

Pre-abortion contraception

In 2016, 58%** of women who had abortion had a contraceptive method before abortion procedure.

** data available for 21% of the performed abortions

Contraception during abortion process (2016)

94%** of women had a contraceptive method prescribed during abortion process
39%** of women had a Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) prescribed during abortion process

** data available for 21% of the performed abortions

IUDs and implants can be placed in abortion facilities.

Source:

https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/fr/home/statistiques/population/naissances-deces.html

https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/fr/home/statistiques/sante/etat-sante/reproductive.html

Country-specific characteristics

Women must express their distress in writing for abortion “on request”.
Abortion is taught during health care professionals’ (HCPs’) medical studies.
HCPs do not have the right to conscientiously object.
Abortion is not reimbursed by the Health national social security.
Both surgical and medical abortions are reimbursed to resident women by private health insurance. Nevertheless, women have to pay an “annual deductible” for treatments overall, i.e., the first €300 – €4,400 depending on the insurance model + 10% of the costs exceeding the deductible, up to a payment of €600.
Non-resident women have to pay around €850 – €2,600 (surgical) or €440 – €1,300 (medical).

Source:

IPPF European Network – Updated January 2012 (http://www.ippfen.org/)

SEXUAL HEALTH Switzerland, former PLANeS (www.sante-sexuelle.ch)

Download statistics of Switzerland

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Page last updated: 4 July 2023