By Vianey Estrada
If you’re wondering whether abortion is legal in Brazil, then Brazil is one of the Latin American countries with the most restrictive abortion access. Although many countries in the region are pushing to make safe abortions available, Brazilian women are facing restricted abortions. This article will review the latest updates on abortion access in Brazil.
What Are Brazil’s Abortion Laws in 2025?
Is abortion legal in Brazil? Here’s what the law says.
- It’s illegal except in three cases:
- a rape-related pregnancy,
- a life-threatening pregnancy, and
- an anencephalic fetus.
- It’s punishable by imprisonment under the 1940 Penal Code.
- Mifepristone is unavailable, and misoprostol is heavily restricted.
- In some regions, there are no health-care clinics that offer abortion services.
Why Do Experts Say Abortion Should Be Legal in Brazil?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), lack of access to safe, affordable, timely, and respectful abortion care and the associated stigma pose risks to women’s physical and mental well-being.
The criminalization of abortion has a compounding impact on those who are already marginalized. Health services, in general, are less accessible to people on low incomes, refugees, migrants, LGBTQI+ people, those with disabilities, and racialized and indigenous people.
Abortions are an essential part of health care, and women and pregnant people must be able to access verified information, safe resources, and abortion support to avoid having unsafe abortions.
How Many Abortions Happen in Brazil? Key Statistics & Trends
- 1 in 7 women (below 40) has had at least one abortion.
- 52% of these women were 19 years old or younger.
- 46% were between 16 and 19 years old.
- 6% were between 12 and 14 years old.
- The proportion is higher among black, brown, and indigenous women.
- 1,800 abortions were done per year in public hospitals from 2015-2022.
- Abortion seekers face legal restrictions, cultural norms, societal pressures, and a lack of abortion clinics.
What Is the Green Wave Abortion Movement & How Does it Impact Brazil?
Many activists have joined the Green Wave movement taking place across Latin America, which is working towards a future where abortion is available to all.
The motto of this movement is, “Sexual education to decide, contraceptives to not have abortions, legal abortion to avoid dying.”.
The Green Wave was born in Argentina but has extended throughout many countries across the region. Thanks to this movement, there have been changes in legislation. The Green Wave is still going strong, especially in regions with high abortion restrictions, like Brazil.
Why Are People Protesting Abortion Laws in Brazil?
Thousands of people in Brazil have protested against a new proposed bill that would equate abortions to homicide. If the bill is passed, those who terminate their pregnancies past 22 weeks could be jailed for up to 20 years, even in cases in which the pregnancy is a result of rape.
Protesters have gathered in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Brasília against the proposed bill. Brazilian advocates want comprehensive abortion care for all, especially considering that restrictions target indigenous, Black, disabled, and lower-income women, who have fewer resources to travel for abortion services.
Although the future of abortion access in Brazil is still unknown, abortion advocates will continue to aim for a world where abortions are accessible. Women and pregnant people can also obtain support from safe abortion providers, such as the safe2choose counselors. They can also reach out via email at info@safe2choose.org or watch our medical abortion protocol videos.
