Abortion legislation in Europe has generally moved toward more liberal rules over the past three decades, although significant differences remain between countries. A comparative study of abortion laws in 45 European states found that 14 countries liberalised their laws between 1994 and 2023. In 11 of these countries, reforms introduced abortion on request, without requiring women to demonstrate specific medical or social grounds.

According to the study, around 85% of women of reproductive age in Europe now live in the 39 countries where abortion is available on request, within the gestational limits established by national legislation. In Great Britain, abortion is permitted on broad social and economic grounds, while Liechtenstein, Monaco and Poland have more restrictive legal frameworks.

The study also shows that progress has not been uniform. Andorra remains the only European country included in the analysis where abortion is prohibited under all circumstances. Malta and Poland are among the most restrictive systems in Europe. Malta amended its legislation in 2023 to allow abortion in situations where the pregnant woman’s life is at risk, but under strict conditions. In Poland, certain legal grounds for abortion have been removed in recent years.

At the same time, the study underlines that having a legal right does not automatically guarantee equal and effective access to services. European countries continue to differ in areas such as gestational limits, mandatory counselling, waiting periods, funding, conscientious refusal by healthcare professionals, and access to medication abortion and telemedicine. These barriers can significantly affect whether a person is able to obtain care in a timely manner.

The European analysis forms part of a wider study covering abortion legislation in 199 countries and territories between 1994 and 2023. Globally, the research identifies an overall trend toward liberalisation. More than 60 countries have liberalised their abortion laws during this period, and approximately 825 million women of reproductive age now live in jurisdictions where the legal grounds for abortion have expanded compared with 1994.

The researchers also point out that progress is not irreversible. Between 1994 and 2023, five countries removed certain legal grounds for abortion or reduced gestational limits for abortion on request. These included the United States, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Poland and Turkmenistan.

In Europe, the debate therefore concerns not only whether abortion is legally permitted, but also the conditions under which services can actually be accessed. A Euractiv article published in connection with International Safe Abortion Day on 28 September 2026 notes that while abortion on request is legal in 25 of the 27 EU Member States, the legal framework and practical access still vary considerably across the region.

For health systems, the gap between legal rights and practical access remains an important issue. The development of European abortion legislation shows a general movement toward broader access, while also highlighting the need to address the barriers that can prevent people from obtaining safe and accessible reproductive healthcare in practice.

Source: Rapporteur, “Europe’s abortion laws are getting more liberal, study finds” (article in English). Comparative data are based on the study “Global progress in abortion law reform: a comparative legal analysis since the International Conference on Population and Development (1994–2023)”.

Original source: Rapporteur – Europe’s abortion laws are getting more liberal, study finds