Abortion in Sweden

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Abortion in Sweden: A simple overview

In Sweden, abortion is legal and widely accepted. Here are the basics in plain language.

How the law works
- Up to the end of week 18: a woman can have an abortion on request.
- After week 18: an abortion needs permission from the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen). Permission is only given in exceptional cases, for the woman’s health or life, or when the fetus cannot survive outside the womb.
- Very late abortions (usually after about week 22) are not allowed, unless the fetus cannot survive outside the womb even if carried to term.
- If the pregnancy poses a grave danger to the woman because of illness or bodily defect, permission for a late abortion may be granted.
- Abortions must be performed by a licensed doctor at a general hospital or an approved medical facility.

Counselling and care
- If a woman requests an abortion or the question comes up, counselling must be offered before the procedure.
- After an abortion, the hospital must offer continued counselling.

Who performs and where
- Only a licensed doctor may perform an abortion.
- The procedure must take place in a hospital or another approved medical facility.

Illegal abortion
- Performing an abortion without authorization is illegal and can lead to fines or prison.

History (short)
- Sweden’s abortion law has evolved since 1938. The key modern law is the Abortion Act of 1974, which gives women the right to choose up to week 18. After that, government review applies (amended in 1995 and 2007).
- In 2008, foreigners can obtain abortions in Sweden if needed.

Statistics and what it means
- Since 1975, about 30,000 to 38,000 abortions are performed each year.
- Most abortions are among women aged 25–29; teenage abortions have declined.
- Most abortions occur early: in 2018, 84% were before week 9 (and 57% before week 7).
- About 93% of abortions use medical (pill) methods.

Public opinion and groups
- Sweden has one of the world’s most liberal abortion policies, and most people support it. In 2024, about 95% of Swedish adults said abortion should be legal in most or all cases.
- Pro-choice groups like RFSU advocate for abortion rights; there are also anti-abortion groups and religious organizations.

Notable case
- In 2014, midwife Ellinor Grimmark challenged her region for not employing her because of her beliefs about performing abortions. The case went through several courts and the European Court of Human Rights, which ruled against her in 2021.