Abortion in Poland
overview of the legality and prevalence of abortions in Poland
Abortion in Poland is legal in cases where the pregnancy is a result of a criminal act or when the woman's life or health is in danger. The last change in the Act on Pregnancy Planning of the Republic of Poland took place on 27 January 2021, when publication of the judgment of the Polish Constitutional Tribunal in the Dziennik Ustaw RP took place.
Poland is one of the few countries in the world where abortion became largely outlawed since the 1990s after decades of permissive liberalized legislation during the communist-era Polish People's Republic. In 2010, about 10 to 15% of abortions on Polish pregnant women had to be carried out outside Poland due to the strict restraints within their own country. Poland's abortion law is also one of the most restrictive in the European Union (EU) and Europe in general, along with a group of other traditionally Roman Catholic countries of the region (e.g. Malta, Liechtenstein, Vatican City, Monaco and Andorra).
In July 2024, a bill sponsored by the Donald Tusk government to allow abortion on request during the first trimester was rejected by the Polish lower house in a 218–215 vote. In November 2024, the Sejm sent the bill to further debate after it was re-introduced by the Left parliamentary group.
The incumbent president of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, opposes liberalising Poland's abortion laws.
Legal status
As of 27 January 2021, abortion is legal only in cases:
when the woman's life or health is endangered by the continuation of pregnancy.
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