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Abortion in Denmark was fully legalized on 1 October 1973,
/ref> allowing
the procedure The Procedure is a New Jersey band that formed in 2001. The band features former Thursday and Purpose guitarist Bill Henderson. History The Procedure formed in 2001 at The College of New Jersey in Trenton, NJ. The band self-released a 4-song d ...
to be done electively if a woman's pregnancy has not exceeded its 18th week. Under Danish law, the patient must be over the age of 15 to decide on an abortion alone;
parental consent Parental consent legislation, laws (also known as parental involvement laws) in some countries require that one or more parents consent to or be notified before their Minor (law), minor child can legally engage in certain activities. Parental con ...
is required for minors below the age of 15, except in special circumstances. An abortion can be performed after 12 weeks if the woman's life or health are in danger. A woman may also be granted an authorization to abort after 12 weeks if certain circumstances are proved to be present (such as poor socioeconomic condition of the woman, risk of birth defects in the baby, the pregnancy being the result of rape, or mental health risk to mother). On 1 June 2025, abortion became legal on request up to the 18th week of pregnancy and parental consent was no longer required for 15 to 18 year olds. This change was agreed politically on 3 May 2024, formally proposed (as 3 related laws) on 30 January 2025, and passed its final parliament vote on 24 April 2025.


History

The Danish Code of 1683 called for the
execution Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty and formerly called judicial homicide, is the state-sanctioned killing of a person as punishment for actual or supposed misconduct. The sentence ordering that an offender be punished in ...
of any unmarried woman who terminated her pregnancy, and at least 17 women were executed on these grounds in the preceding period 1624–1663. The Midwife Regulation of 1714 (''Jordemoderforordningen'') extended the death penalty to midwives who induced abortions, though it is unclear how often the penalty was effectuated. A 1760 case involving the use of illegal abortion drugs was settled administratively with a fine; a 1772 court case over a woman who died following the illegal administering of drugs likewise led only to a fine; and towards the end of the century, death sentences were routinely commuted. With the new penal code of 1866, the maximum penalty was reduced to eight years of penal labor. In 1930 it was further reduced to two years in prison, and an exemption was added for pregnancies threatening the life of the mother. The issue of liberal reforms in abortion laws was raised in public and political debate during the 1920s and 1930s, in parallel with the debate around sexual education and birth control. Abortion was first allowed in 1939 by application; if the doctors deemed the pregnancy fell into one of three categories (harmful or fatal to the mother, high risk for birth defects, or a pregnancy borne out of rape), a woman could legally have her pregnancy terminated.The rocky road to abortion on demand
/ref> A little more than half of the applications received in 1954 and 1955 were accepted; the low acceptance rates were linked to a surge of illegal abortions performed outside the confines of hospitals. An addendum to the 1939 law was passed on 24 March 1970, allowing elective abortions only for women under the age of 18 who were deemed "ill-equipped for motherhood", and women over the age of 38. Abortion in Denmark was fully legalized on 1 October 1973, allowing abortion to be done electively if a woman's pregnancy has not exceeded its 12th week. The reform marked a crucial step towards recognizing women's right to make choices about their own bodies. The decriminalization not only ensured access to safe abortion procedures but also aligned Denmark with evolving international standards on reproductive rights.The 1973 law is still valid today and nullifies the 1970 law. , the abortion rate was 12.1 abortions per 1000 women aged 15–49 years, which is below average for the Nordic countries (Denmark,
Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...
,
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,
Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...
and
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). The vast majority of Danes support access to legal abortions. In 2007, polls found that 95% supported the right.


Abortion rights of minors

Danish law generally permits children to consent to medical procedures from the age of 15, but not in the case of abortion where parental consent is required until the age of 18. A minor may petition the government to grant an abortion without parental consent, or (in special cases) even without informing the parents. Such requests number about 20 to 40 per year and are usually granted, though in 2014, one child was refused both parental consent and government exemption and forced to carry her pregnancy to term. Already in 2003, the
Green Left The term green left refers primarily to a political affiliation that combines elements of green politics and left-wing politics in countries where the term is used. It is primarily a social justice and human rights oriented ideology, with an exp ...
party proposed lowering the age at which an abortion can be had without parental consent to 15, in line with the general Danish age of medical autonomy, but despite securing support from a parliamentary majority, the law remained unchanged at the time. In 2023, the Danish government announced new plans to finally change the law. Children under the age of 15 would still need parental consent.


Access to abortion services

Access to abortion services in Denmark is characterised by both the legal availability of the procedure and efforts to ensure a thorough and comprehensive distribution across regions. Abortion is legally permitted within specified gestational limits and under defined circumstances, such as preserving the woman's health or in cases of socio-economic considerations. This legal framework supports women's autonomy in reproductive choices. The Danish healthcare system prioritises comprehensive access to abortion services. In both public and private healthcare facilities, they offer different services, contributing to widespread availability. The Danish Health Authority compiles and publishes detailed statistics on abortion procedures performed annually, offering transparency on the utilisation of these services. The authority's reports include information on the number of abortions, gestational ages, and relevant demographic data. Women of age groups around 18-25, says UN Women, are the one who approach abortion the most. Furthermore, Denmark emphasizes the provision of information and counselling for individuals considering abortions. Women are entitled to receive accurate information about the procedure, its implications, and available alternatives. These counselling sessions are designed to support informed decision-making and ensure that the individual's choice aligns with her circumstances and values, helping them to make a choice that is well-informed and reflective of their personal situation and ethical considerations.


Abortion methods and techniques

Abortion methods and techniques practiced in Denmark encompass a range of options tailored to individual preferences, medical considerations, and gestational stages. Medical abortions, which involve the use of medication to induce termination, are available within the first trimester. This method typically involves a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol, administered under medical supervision. Surgical abortions are conducted both through aspiration and dilation and evacuation (D&E) procedures. Aspiration, often referred to as vacuum aspiration, is performed in the first trimester. It involves the gentle removal of the pregnancy through suction, usually completed within a brief outpatient procedure. D&E, on the other hand, is employed for pregnancies at later gestational stages. This surgical method entails dilating the cervix and evacuating the uterine contents. The choice of method depends on factors such as gestational age, medical considerations, and patient preferences. Danish healthcare providers prioritize patient safety and well-being, adhering to established medical guidelines and standards of care for abortion procedures. Medical professionals ensure that individuals seeking abortions are informed about the available methods, their implications, and any potential risks.


Key figures in abortion reforms

Organisations like th
Danish Family Planning Association (Sex & Samfund)
and women's rights advocacy groups have also been crucial in propelling progressive abortion reforms. These organizations have played active roles in raising awareness about reproductive rights, disseminating accurate information, and advocating for policies that prioritize women's well-being and self-determination.


Faroe Islands

Abortion on the
Faroe Islands The Faroe Islands ( ) (alt. the Faroes) are an archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean and an autonomous territory of the Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark. Located between Iceland, Norway, and the United Kingdom, the islands have a populat ...
is still governed by the Danish law of 1956, which restricts abortions to the aforementioned three circumstances (pregnancy harmful or fatal to the mother, high risk for birth defects, or a pregnancy borne out of rape), as Danish politicians were historically unwilling to impose the Danish abortion law on the more conservative Faroese population. Abortion policy was formally
devolved Devolution is the statutory delegation of powers from the central government of a sovereign state to govern at a subnational level, such as a regional or local level. It is a form of administrative decentralization. Devolved territories ...
to the
Faroese Parliament Faroese ( ) or Faroish ( ) may refer to anything pertaining to the Faroe Islands, e.g.: * the Faroese language * the Faroese people * the Faroese islands {{Disambiguation Language and nationality disambiguation pages ...
in 2018. , the abortion rate in the Faroe Islands was 2.9 abortions per 1000 women aged 15–44 years, about one-fourth the rate in Denmark. Additionally, some Faroese women travel to Denmark to have the procedure done.


Greenland

Abortion in
Greenland Greenland is an autonomous territory in the Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark. It is by far the largest geographically of three constituent parts of the kingdom; the other two are metropolitan Denmark and the Faroe Islands. Citizens of Greenlan ...
was legalized on 12 June 1975, under legislation equivalent to the Danish law. , the abortion rate in Greenland was 79.7 abortions per 1000 women aged 15–44 years, which is among the highest in the world and about six times higher than in Denmark; the number of abortions have exceeded live births every year since 2013. Despite being treated as a public health concern, the rate remains high.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abortion in Denmark
Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
Healthcare in Denmark Law of Denmark
Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
1939 establishments in Denmark 1939 in law 1973 establishments in Denmark 1973 in law