Youth and unsafe abortion: a global snapshot

Worldwide, approximately 16 million women and girls ages 15 to 19 give birth each year, accounting for approximately 11 percent of all births worldwide. For these young women, complications from pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death, and unsafe abortion is a major contributor to this mortality. This brief provides an overview of unsafe abortion among young women. Topics covered include abortion trends for youth, access to abortion in countries where it is legal, the role of contraception, regional profiles of youth and abortion as well as the impact of conflict on unintended pregnancy among youth.