Croatia Sees Near 10% Rise in Abortions in 2025

According to the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ), 3,102 induced abortions were carried out in Croatia in 2025. That is almost 10 per cent more than the 2,828 recorded in 2024, and the highest annual figure in the last 12 years.

The total number of all abortions, including spontaneous and other types, rose by 6.4 per cent to 8,545, up from 8,033 the previous year. Spontaneous abortions alone increased from 1,479 to 1,746.

The report shows that 82 per cent of induced abortions were performed at the woman's request, while 4.8 per cent were due to a risk to the woman's health and 3.2 per cent because of foetal malformations. Most procedures—79 per cent—took place during the first ten weeks of pregnancy.

Women aged 30 to 39 accounted for nearly 42 per cent of induced abortions, followed by women in their twenties at just over 40 per cent. Among those under 20, there were 204 cases, including 58 involving minors. Geographically, the highest rates were in Međimurje and Karlovac counties, while the lowest were in Split-Dalmatia and Dubrovnik-Neretva.

Complications related to abortion led to 317 hospitalisations in 2025, down from 381 the year before, with no deaths reported. The HZJZ also noted that in over two-thirds of cases where an abortion was performed at the woman's request, no contraceptive method had been used before conception. The institute added that Croatia's rate of induced abortions relative to live births remains lower than the EU average and neighbouring countries.