Abortion in Chile
"For decades, Chile had one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the world. Although therapeutic abortion had been permitted under the Health Code since 1931, this was repealed in 1989 during the final days of the Pinochet dictatorship. It wasn’t until 2017 that legal abortion was reintroduced through Law 21.030, which permits the procedure only in three circumstances: when the pregnant person’s life is at risk, when the fetus is not viable outside the womb, and in cases of rape [1]. Since then, accessibility in practice has remained limited. Many women face administrative obstacles, medical conscientious objection, stigma, and fear of mistreatment, even when eligible for legal abortion. Activists report that 76 % of eligible patients in 2023 avoided government clinics due to concerns about disrespectful treatment, long wait times, or denial of care [2]."
Is abortion legal in Chile?
Chile’s current abortion law, passed in 2017 (Law 21.030), permits abortion only under three specific conditions: when the life of the pregnant person is at risk, when the fetus has a condition incompatible with life outside the womb, or when the pregnancy is the result of rape, limited to 12 weeks of gestation, or 14 weeks if the person is under 14 years old.Outside of these cases, abortion remains criminalized. Even within the legal exceptions, many people face barriers such as conscientious objection by healthcare providers, administrative delays, and social stigma that limit access to safe and timely care.In 2025, the government introduced a bill to decriminalize abortion up to 14 weeks for any reason, signaling a potential shift toward expanded reproductive rights [3]; however, this legislation is still under debate and has not been enacted, so the current restrictive framework continues to apply.
Abortion with pills in Chile
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In-clinic abortion in Chile
Support and Resources in Chile
Support and Resources in Chile
Who can I contact for more information about abortion in Chile?
Please contact the following organizations to access abortion services and information.
Con Las Amigas y en la Casa
Abortion Support Network
Connect
Línea Aborto Libre
Abortion Support Network