Number of abortions decreasing in Switzerland

The number of abortions has slightly decreased again in Switzerland in the forth full year after implementation of abortion on request in October 2002. To the contrary of predictions of a surge by the anti-choice movement before the new law took effect.

The Swiss Federal office of statistics has published the statistics of abortion for the year 2006. The number has fallen from a total of 10'384 abortions performed on Swiss residents in the previous year to 10'084 in 2006. The abortion rate in 2006 was 6/1000 women aged 15-44 as against 6.6/1000 in 2005. This continues a decreasing trend since 1970.

The teenage abortion rate also is at a very low level with 5.1/1000 women 15-19 years old.

Underreporting seems to be negligeable if any. Switzerland today is the country with the lowest abortion rate in Western Europe.

For more details:
- 2006 report by the Federal office of statistics German French
- Statistics 1970-2006 German French