Have you ever wondered what other countries’ takes are on abortion? Pew Research Center conducted a survey to find out which countries are primarily pro-life and which are primarily pro-choice.
Gathering the Data
Pew Research Center received survey responses from 27,285 adults abroad between February 20th and May 22nd, 2023. They ran their survey in the U.S. from March 27th to April 2nd, 2023, receiving a response from 5,079 adults.
Most to Least Abortion Supporters
The countries that follow are ranked in order of citizens that said abortion should be legal in all or most cases to those who responded that abortion should be illegal in all or most cases.
1: Sweden
A massive 95% of Swedes reported believing abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Four percent responded that it should be illegal in most or all cases.
2: France
Eighty-seven percent of French people reported believing abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Eleven percent responded that it should be illegal in most or all cases.
3: Netherlands
Eighty-five percent of Dutch residents reported believing abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Thirteen percent responded that it should be illegal in most or all cases.
4: Germany
Eighty-four percent of Germans reported believing abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Fourteen percent responded that it should be illegal in most or all cases.
5: United Kingdom
The UK ties with Germany, with eighty-four percent of Brits reported believing abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Fourteen percent responded that it should be illegal in most or all cases.
6: Australia
Eighty-two percent of Australians reported believing abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Seventeen percent responded that it should be illegal in most or all cases.
7: Hungary
Eighty-one percent of Hungarians reported believing abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Seventeen percent responded that it should be illegal in most or all cases.
8: Japan
Eighty-one percent of Japanese residents reported believing abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Twelve percent responded that it should be illegal in most or all cases.
9: Italy
Seventy-nine percent of Italians reported believing abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Nineteen percent responded that it should be illegal in most or all cases.
10: Canada
Seventy-eight percent of Canadians reported believing abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Seventeen percent responded that it should be illegal in most or all cases.
11: Greece
Seventy-seven percent of Greek residents reported believing abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Nineteen percent responded that it should be illegal in most or all cases.
12: Spain
Seventy-four percent of Spanish people reported believing abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Twenty-four percent responded that it should be illegal in most or all cases.
13: South Korea
Sixty-eight percent of South Koreans reported believing abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Thirty percent responded that it should be illegal in most or all cases.
14: United States
Sixty-two percent of Americans reported believing abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Thirty-six percent responded that it should be illegal in most or all cases.
15: India
Fifty-nine percent of Indians reported believing abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Thirty-eight percent responded that it should be illegal in most or all cases.
16: Poland
Fifty-six percent of the Polish reported believing abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Thirty-six percent responded that it should be illegal in most or all cases.
17: Argentina
Fifty-three percent of Argentines reported believing abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Forty-four percent responded that it should be illegal in most or all cases.
18: Israel
Fifty-one percent of Israelis reported believing abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Forty-two percent responded that it should be illegal in most or all cases.
19: Mexico
Forty-six percent of Mexicans reported believing abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Fifty percent responded that it should be illegal in most or all cases.
20: South Africa
Forty-one percent of South Africans reported believing abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Fifty-seven percent responded that it should be illegal in most or all cases.
21: Brazil
Twenty-six percent of Brazilians reported believing abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Seventy percent responded that it should be illegal in most or all cases.
22: Indonesia
Thirteen percent of Indonesians reported believing abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Eighty-three percent responded that it should be illegal in most or all cases.
23: Kenya
Eleven percent of Kenyans reported believing abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Eighty-nine percent responded that it should be illegal in most or all cases.
24: Nigeria
Eight percent of Nigerians reported believing abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Ninety-two percent responded that it should be illegal in most or all cases.
Progressive Europe
In almost all of the European countries that Pew Research Center surveyed, nearly every one had at least a 75% response that abortion should be legal in most or all cases. About 25% of European respondents believe abortion should be legal in all cases.
Most Likely to Support Abortion
It likely comes as little surprise to Americans that Pew Research Center found that adults who are pro-choice tend to pertain to one or more of the following groups:
- Women
- Democrat
- Religiously unaffiliated
Religion’s Role
Pew found a strong correlation between one’s stance on abortion and how important they report religion being in their lives.
Nigeria vs Sweden
Ninety-nine percent of Nigerians say that religion is important in their lives, and only 8% support abortion in most or all cases. In contrast, 20% of Swedes reported religion being important in their lives, and a massive 95% support abortion in most or all cases.
Americans vs the World
Abortion isn’t the only issue that divides Americans. However, as a whole, Americans’ feelings about social media deviate from those of many other countries. Here’s why.
Why Americans Disagree With the World on Social Media’s Impact
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