Which German States Report the Most Abortions?

Key Takeaways

• Germany recorded 106,450 abortions and 676,117 live births in 2024. This equals 15.7 abortions per 100 live births nationwide.
• Abortion ratios vary widely across states. They range from 9.7 per 100 births in Rhineland-Palatinate to 37.6 in Bremen.
• City-states record the highest ratios. Bremen (37.6 abortions per 100 births), Berlin (30.5), and Hamburg (23.7) stand well above the national average.
• Eastern Germany also shows higher ratios than many Western states. Historical policies and healthcare access patterns continue to influence regional differences.
• Southern and southwestern states show the lowest ratios. Baden-Württemberg (11.4), Bavaria (10.7), and Rhineland-Palatinate (9.7) record some of the lowest levels in the country.

Abortion in Germany is illegal under the criminal code but permitted under specific conditions. A pregnancy may be terminated within the first 12 weeks after conception if the woman receives mandatory counselling and observes a three-day waiting period before the procedure. Abortions are also permitted for medical reasons or in cases of rape, where counselling is not required.

In 2024, Germany recorded 676,117 live births and 106,450 abortions, equivalent to about 15.7 abortions per 100 live births.

Abortions and Live Births by German Federal State

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Learn something new about Germany every week and make informed decisions with confidence.

City-States Record Highest Abortion Ratios

Germany’s three city-states have some of the highest abortion ratios in the country.

Bremen shows the highest level at 37.6 abortions per 100 live births, followed by Berlin (30.5) and Hamburg (23.7).

Urban demographics help explain this pattern. Large cities tend to have:

• younger populations
• more single-person households
• larger student populations
• lower fertility rates

Why Did Birth Rates Drop in Germany? ->

Urban areas also offer greater access to reproductive healthcare services, including clinics that provide pregnancy termination.

This combination often increases the number of abortions relative to births, even when overall fertility remains relatively low.

East–West Pattern on Abortion Rates

Beyond city-states, the data also shows a noticeable East–West pattern.

Several eastern states rank among the highest abortion ratios in Germany:

• Thuringia – 25.9 abortions per 100 births
• Saxony-Anhalt – 24.7
• Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania – 23.9
• Saxony – 22.6
• Brandenburg – 20.5

Meanwhile, the lowest abortion ratios appear mainly in southern and southwestern Germany, including:

• Rhineland-Palatinate – 9.7 abortions per 100 births
• Bavaria – 10.7
• Baden-Württemberg – 11.4
• Lower Saxony – 11.6

This regional contrast largely reflects two long-term structural factors.

First, historical legacy and social attitudes. Before reunification, the former East Germany (GDR) allowed abortion under liberal laws and strongly promoted women’s participation in the workforce. These policies contributed to greater social acceptance of abortion and a broader network of providers.

After reunification in 1990, Germany adopted a unified legal framework influenced largely by West German regulations, which were more restrictive. While attitudes have gradually converged, Eastern states remain somewhat more permissive in public opinion and reproductive norms.

Second, differences in healthcare access. Abortion services remain more geographically accessible in parts of eastern and northern Germany than in some western regions, where the number of providers can be more limited. As a result, patients sometimes travel across state lines to access services.

Hospital Capacity Across Germany ->

Together, these factors help explain why eastern states still record higher abortion-to-birth ratios on average, even decades after reunification.

These regional differences illustrate how abortion statistics are shaped not only by individual decisions but also by demographic structure, healthcare access, and long-term institutional history.