Abortion statistics

Abortion – is the termination of pregnancy less than 22 completed weeks of gestation.

Early abortion - the termination of pregnancy up to 12 weeks gestation (11 weeks 6 days).

Late abortion - the termination of pregnancy 12 to 22 weeks gestation (21 weeks, 6 days).

Legal abortion – the termination of pregnancy before 12 weeks of pregnancy according to the choice of woman, performed in a certified medical institution.

Medical abortion – the termination of pregnancy less than 24 completed weeks of gestation because of mothers anatomical or functional disorders or predictable fetus’ congenital or heredity dysfunctions, or because of social indications.

Spontaneous abortion – the unintentional termination of a pregnancy with partial or complete expulsion of the fetus from uterus before 22 completed weeks of gestation.

Missed abortion – type of spontaneous abortion in which the fetus is not expelled from the uterus.

Abortion with unknown origin – the termination of the pregnancy when the factors lead to the termination are unknown.

Induced abortions – legal, medical and criminal abortions.

Medication abortion - termination of pregnancy with medications performed until the 9th week of pregnancy. Medically assisted abortion is an alternative method of surgical termination of pregnancy.

Total pregnancy rate – includes the number of all pregnancies (births, abortions, ectopic pregnancies) per 1,000 females aged 15-49.

Statistical region – abortion data are classified by region of the healthcare institution according to Cabinet of Ministers Order No. 911 “On statistical regions of the Republic of Latvia and their administrative units”. Until 2024 region of the healthcare institution was classified according to Cabinet of Ministers Order No. 271 “On statistical regions of the Republic of Latvia and their administrative units”.

A state statistical report “Report regarding antenatal care, abortions and contraception”, Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDPC) of Latvia.

Data on births for calculating the total number of pregnancies and data on the number of live births for calculating the indicators were taken from the Medical Birth register, Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDPC) of Latvia.

Data on ectopic pregnancies for calculating the total number of pregnancies were taken from a state statistical report “Report of hospital work”, Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDPC) of Latvia.

Average population by statistical region (Central Statistical Bureau).

Abortion statistics according to data from State Statistical Report "Report on antenatal care, abortion and contraception", Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 720 "Rules on standard forms for official statistics in the field of health care" , Annex 6 “Report on antenatal care, abortion, and contraception”.

Information is submitted by outpatient and inpatient heatlh care institutions where termination of pregnancy occurs.

Statistical Yearbook of Health Care in Latvia Link

The Centre for Disease Prevention and Control of Latvia

Janis Misins

Head of the Health Statistics Unit

Phone Number: +371 67501582

Last updated: 02.12.2024.