In high-income countries, a vast majority of abortions are carried out before the 13th week of pregnancy, according to a study published in BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health.
Researchers examined statistics on how far along a pregnancy is and method of abortion for 24 high-income countries with liberal abortion laws. They studied data for 2017 or the most recent year for which data was available. They also identified trends in the prior 10 years where possible.
The study shows in most of the countries studied, more than 90 percent of all abortions were completed before 13 weeks, and more than two-thirds of abortions occurred within the first nine weeks of the pregnancy.
The study also noted an increase in the proportion of medical abortions and in the proportion that were carried out before the ninth week of pregnancy in the last decade.