Report: Half of all pregnancies globally are unplanned, 60% of those end in abortion

The United Nations Population Fund reported that nearly half of all pregnancies worldwide are unintended. This amount totaled 121 million annually.

According to the Washington Post, the annual State of World Population Report for 2022 was released on Wednesday. The Population Fund said that over 60% of unintended pregnancies end in abortion. It is estimated that 45% of abortions are unsafe, resulting in 5% to 13% of maternal deaths.

Dr. Natalia Kanem, an executive director of the fund, said, “This report is a wakeup call. The staggering number of unintended pregnancies represents a global failure to uphold women and girls’ basic human rights. For the women affected, the most life-altering reproductive choice – whether or not to become pregnant – is no choice at all.”

The rate of unintended pregnancies has seen a decline. From 1990 to 2019 there was a decline of 79 to 64 for every 1,000 women aged 15 to 49.

However, the total number of women experiencing unintended pregnancies increased about 13% over the 30 year period because of population growth. The data showed that in 64 countries, 23% were unable to say no to sex, 24% were unable to make decisions about their own health care, and 8% were unable to make decisions about contraception.

The report said that “Together, thai means that only 57% of women are able to make their decisions over their sexual and reproductive rights.”