In Canada, abortion has been decriminalized since 1988
The Abortion Access Tracker illustrates the legal landscape of abortion in Canada and the reality of accessing abortion care across the country.
Through this resource, we aim to better understand gaps, as well as identify opportunities to protect and improve abortion access through policy and law.
What we know about abortion in Canada
Abortion is a very common medical procedure that is routinely needed by people who can get pregnant.
Abortion is also a very safe procedure. The rate of complications is very low, and much lower than the rate of complications from carrying a pregnancy to term and giving birth.1
In Canada, about a third of people who can get pregnant have at least one abortion in their lifetime.2
Almost half of all pregnancies are unintended in Canada. Of these, 37% end in abortion.3
95,649
The number of abortions in Canada is evenly distributed across the reproductive lifespan, with a vast majority of people being over 18 years old at the time of the procedure.5
Over a third of people who get abortions in Canada are already mothers/parents.6
Access at a glance
A national snapshot of abortion services
Access to abortion varies greatly across Canada. Where a person lives and whether they have a primary care provider can impact how accessible an abortion is.
The introduction of Mifegymiso, the drug used in medication abortion, has had a significant impact on abortion access in Canada.7 Mifegymiso, which was made available in 2017, can be prescribed by a primary care provider and taken at home, making it easier for people to access abortion in their own communities.
While the introduction of Mifegymiso was a positive development, there is still more work to be done to ensure that everyone in Canada has equitable access to abortion.
Province/ Territory
Total points of service*
Urban Points of service**
Rural points of service**
Functional Gestational Limit
Crisis pregnancy centres***
AB
9
7
2
21
24 weeks
BC
22
21
1
27
25 weeks
MB
4
4
0
5
20 weeks
NB
4
4
0
6
16 weeks
NL
4
3
1
1
16 weeks
NS
4
3
1
5
16 weeks
NT
2
1
1
0
20 weeks
NU
1
0
1
0
17 weeks
ON
49
45
4
71
24 weeks and 6 days
PE
1
1
0
3
13 weeks
QC
56
37
19
10
24 weeks
SK
4
4
0
5
18 weeks and 6 days
YT
1
1
0
0
15 weeks and 3 days
What’s the state of abortion access in your province/territory?
How does legislation impact abortion access?
Abortion is legal in Canada, but the legal landscape surrounding abortion care is complex.
While abortion access is widely supported amongst Canadians, some lawmakers have attempted to restrict abortion through private member’s bills. They even co-opt feminist and rights-based arguments to justify their anti-abortion views.
Learn more about the laws and legal challenges that have shaped access to abortion, and how to recognize an anti-abortion bill.
Where you live isn’t the only potential barrier to accessing abortion
Barriers can also be financial, social, interpersonal, or political in nature. In many provinces, a healthcare provider can refuse to refer someone to abortion care due to their beliefs.
Not everyone is impacted the same by these barriers, with those most marginalized experiencing the most obstacles to accessing care.
Learn more about the most common barriers to abortion, and who is more likely to experience them.
Recent news
The fight for abortion rights is a fight for democracy
March 19, 2024
Having control over our bodies is crucial for having control over our lives. Because of this, abortion is not just a health issue. Whether women and people capable of becoming pregnant can make decisions about if, when, or with whom to have children and about what they do with their body, for health or any other reason, is an equity issue.
New Tool Highlights Abortion Access Disparities Across Canada Amidst Rising Attacks
March 19, 2024
Today, Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights and the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) launched the Abortion Access Tracker, a website that illustrates the legal landscape of abortion in Canada and the reality of accessing abortion care across the country.
References
1 Schummers, L., & Norman, W. V. (2019). Abortion services in Canada: access and safety. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 191(19), E517–E518. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.190477; Geekie-Sousa, A. (2022, November 22). Prescribing the abortion pill without restrictions is safe and effective - Midwifery Graduate Program. Midwifery Graduate Program. https://midwiferymasters.mcmaster.ca/prescribing-the-abortion-pill-without-restrictions-is-safe-and-effective/
2 Norman WV. Induced abortion in Canada 1974-2005: trends over the first generation with legal access. Contraception. 2012 Feb;85(2):185-91. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2011.06.009. Epub 2011 Aug 4. PMID: 22036474.
3 Canada. (n.d.). Guttmacher Institute. https://www.guttmacher.org/regions/northern-america/canada
4 Average calculated from 2011 - 2021. Statistics - Abortion in Canada. (2023, April 8). Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada. https://www.arcc-cdac.ca/media/2020/07/statistics-abortion-in-canada.pdf
5 Induced Abortions Reported in Canada in 2021. (2023). Canadian Institute for Health Information. https://www.cihi.ca/sites/default/files/document/induced-abortions-reported-in-canada-2021-update-data-tables-en.xlsx
6 Induced Abortions Reported in Canada in 2020. (2022). Canadian Institute for Health Information. https://www.cihi.ca/sites/default/files/document/induced-abortions-reported-in-canada-2020-en.xlsx
7 Heatherington, R. (2022, October 5). National survey of abortion care providers shows access has improved. UBC Faculty of Medicine. https://www.med.ubc.ca/news/national-survey-of-abortion-care-providers-shows-access-has-improved/#:~:text=Mifepristone%20is%20improving%20abortion%20access,in%20urban%20areas%20(25.6%25)
