Table 2

Abortion regulations during COVID-19 across 44 European countries/regions (for the countries in italic type the information was based on desk review)

CountryGestational limit (weeks) for non-medical indicationsMandatory waiting periodParental consentHome abortion (gestational age in weeks)Number of in-person visitsAvailability of
telemedicine
Access to mifepristoneChange in the likely availability of surgical abortion during COVID-19
Albania 12 Yes Yes Not permitted No information No information Not available No information
Andorra Ban on elective abortions
Austria16NoNo92NoClinic/hospitalLess available
Belarus 12 No Yes No information No information No information No information No information
Belgium14YesNoHome misoprostol up to 9 weeks+6 days in some centres1NoClinic/hospitalLess available in hospitals
Bosnia Herzegovina No information Yes No information No information No information No information No information
Bulgaria12NoYesNot permitted0NoClinic/hospitalLess available
Croatia10YesYesNot permitted2NoClinic/hospitalUnchanged
Cyprus 12 No information Yes Not permitted No information No information Not available No information
Czech Republic7NoYesNot permitted2NoClinic/hospitalLess available
Denmark12NoNo91NoClinic/hospital; GP officeUnchanged
Estonia12NoNo9No informationNoClinic/hospitalUnchanged
Finland12*NoNo9 weeks; 10 weeks in Helsinki2NoClinic/hospitalUnchanged
France14NoNo90YesClinic/hospital; GP office; pharmacy; mail orderLess available
Georgia12YesYes92NoClinic/hospital; pharmacy; postedUnchanged
Germany14YesYesNo guidelines and medical abortion rare3Only for counsellingGP office No information
Hungary12YesYesNot permitted3NoNoNot available
Iceland22NoNo91NoClinic/hospitalUnchanged
Ireland12YesYes92YesClinic/hospital; GP clinic; pick up or courierUnchanged
Italia13YesYesNot permitted3NoClinic/hospitalUnchanged
Latvia12YesYesNot permitted2NoClinic/hospitalLess available
Liechtenstein Ban on elective abortions
Lithuania 12 No Yes No information Clinic/hospital, pharmacy No information
Luxembourg14YesNo92–3NoClinic/hospital; GP officeUnchanged
MaltaTotal ban
Montenegro10YesYes90NoClinic/hospitalUnchanged
Monaco Ban on elective abortions
Poland Ban on elective abortions
Netherlands22YesNoNot permitted1NoClinic/hospitalLess available
Norway12NoYes91NoClinic/hospitalUnsure
Portugal10 weeks
+6 days
NoYes101No (only for post-abortion visit)Clinic/hospitalLess available
Moldova 12 No Yes No information No information No information Clinic/hospital No information
Romania 14 No No information No information No information No information No information No information
Russian Federation 12 Yes No No information No information No information No information No information
San Marino Ban on elective abortions
Serbia 10 No Yes No information No information No information Clinic/hospital No information
Slovakia 12 Yes No No information No information No information No information No information
Slovenia10NoNo91–2NoClinic/hospitalUnchanged
Spain14YesYes91NoClinic/hospitalLess available
Sweden18 †No No101Yes ‡Clinic/hospitalUnchanged
Switzerland12NoNoMostly 7 weeks, sometimes 9 weeks1–3NoClinic/hospital; GP officeUnsure
UK (England)24NoNo9 weeks +6 days0YesClinic/hospital; delivered/drop off; posted; pick upLess available
UK (Wales)24NoNo9 weeks +6 days0YesClinic/hospital; delivered/drop off; posted; pick upLess available
UK (Scotland)24NoNo11 weeks +6 days0YesClinic/hospital; delivered/drop off; posted; pick upLess available
UK (Northern Ireland)11weeks+6 days and up to 24§ weeks if risk of physical injury or to mental health15 NoNo100NoClinic/hospitalMore available
Ukraine12YesYesNot permitted1NoClinic/hospitalUnchanged
  • *Up to 12+0 weeks with ‘approval’ from one or two physicians.

  • †Up to 21 weeks+6 days with approval from the Board of Health and Welfare.

  • ‡A clinical trial in Stockholm offers abortion telemedicine services.

  • §Abortion is legal up to 24 weeks in Northern Ireland but currently is not available beyond the first trimester.