The new issue of International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Rights contains an article entitled Legal Abortion Worldwide in 2008. The article surveys reports from the 77 nations that permit abortion to perserve a woman’s mental or physical health. The article critiques collection of abortion statistics, noting that most “official” reports are incomplete. The United States continues to lead the world in the number of abortions, but Estonia has the highest abortion rate where 90% of women of reproductive age will have an abortion. Germany and Switzerland has the lowest abortion rate at 7%.
It is discouraging that organizations like Guttmacher are the most up-to-date source of statistical information on abortion, instead of governments charged with promotion of public health.