New statistics from Switzerland show the abortion rate remained stable – and comparatively low – in 2021. Longer term, the average age of those terminating pregnancies is rising.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/dos
Español
es
La tasa de abortos en Suiza se mantuvo sin cambios en 2021
A total of 10,869 abortions were recorded in the country in 2021, or 6.7 for every 1,000 women, the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) saidExternal link on Wednesday. The rate is practically the same as for 2020, when 6.8 abortions per 1,000 women were recorded.
The rate is low by international comparison, according to the FSO.
Some 95% of abortions were carried out during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy – as foreseen under the 2002 legal change to partially decriminalise abortion. Over three-quarters of procedures were carried out during the first eight weeks.
Women over the age of 30 now make up the majority of cases, at 52%; in 2010, this figure was 45%. Correspondingly, younger women seeking abortions have been decreasing: under-25-year-olds have sunk from one-third to one-quarter of cases since 2010.
Across the country, medical rather than surgical abortion is the norm in the vast majority (80%) of situations, though regional differences exist – for example, in cantons Geneva and Fribourg, the number drops to 60%.
Ongoing issue
Two decades after voters massively accepted the legalisation of abortion within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, the issue is still a debated one, and various political initiatives are the works: oneExternal link demands the removal of abortion from the criminal code (it is still technically illegal after 12 weeks, without medical justification); others want to introduceExternal link a mandatory “day of reflection” before a procedure, or to banExternal link later-stage abortions completely.
This content was published on
Swiss public broadcasters RTS and SRF are drastically reducing their communications via the social network X (formerly Twitter).
Israel: president of Swiss universities rejects academic boycott
This content was published on
Luciana Vaccaro, president of Swissuniversities, the umbrella group of Swiss universities, is not in favour of an academic boycott of Israeli universities.
First large-scale alpine solar plant approved in Switzerland
This content was published on
The approval was met with satisfaction by the project's organisers, but it also brings with it a certain amount of pressure.
Medieval squirrels may have ‘helped spread leprosy’
This content was published on
An examination of squirrel remains in the United Kingdom has opened up interesting questions and possibilities in terms of the history of the disease.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss abortion rate slightly rises in 2019
This content was published on
After years of decline, the number of abortions carried out in Switzerland have risen over the past two years. But the figures remain low.
This content was published on
One of the few women to go public about her abortion experience, Doris Agazzi, told swissinfo.ch she received understanding from her immediate community but also hate mail. “I never felt ashamed or considered that it should be kept secret but I know many women did feel that way,” Agazzi said. Swiss law changed in 2002…
This content was published on
In Switzerland, the number of teenage abortions has been falling for years but women over 30 are increasingly terminating their pregnancy.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.