Over 30,000 Women Die Annually in Nigeria from Unsafe Abortions, Spotlighted on World Abortion Day

Unsafe abortions remain a major public health crisis in Nigeria and across Africa, causing preventable deaths and long-term health complications.

Today, as the world observes World Abortion Day, attention is drawn to the alarming risks faced by women in Nigeria and across Africa who seek abortions under unsafe conditions. Despite global progress in reproductive healthcare, restrictive laws, cultural stigmas, and limited access to safe procedures continue to put millions of women’s lives at risk.

In Nigeria, abortion is largely illegal except to save a woman’s life, creating a clandestine environment where unsafe procedures are prevalent. According to a 2019 study by the Guttmacher Institute, approximately 1.25 million induced abortions occur in Nigeria each year, of which over 60% are unsafe. Tragically, unsafe abortions are responsible for about 33,000 deaths annually in Nigeria, making it one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in the country.

By comparison, countries with liberal abortion laws experience dramatically lower mortality rates. For instance, in South Africa, where abortion has been legal and accessible since 1996, maternal deaths from abortion-related complications are less than 1 per 100,000 procedures, illustrating the stark difference that safe, legal access makes.

Across Africa, unsafe abortion remains a leading cause of maternal deaths, contributing to roughly 14% of maternal mortality in the region, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Women often resort to untrained practitioners, ingest harmful drugs, or use crude instruments, resulting in severe complications such as hemorrhage, infection, infertility, and death.

Dr. Aisha Bello, a gynecologist at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, explained, “Every day we see women who have survived unsafe abortions but suffer life-altering consequences—uterine perforations, severe infections, infertility. For many, it is literally a life-or-death matter.”

Socioeconomic factors worsen the situation. Poor, young, and rural women are disproportionately affected, as they lack access to safe medical care and face stigma that prevents them from seeking timely assistance. Even where post-abortion care is available, delays in treatment often lead to preventable deaths.

Advocates are calling for urgent reforms to reduce maternal mortality. “Legal restrictions do not stop abortions—they only make them unsafe,” said Fatima Umar, director of a Nigerian women’s rights organization. “We need policies that prioritize women’s health, provide accurate sexual education, and ensure access to safe reproductive services.”

On this World Abortion Day, the message is clear: for Nigerian and African women, unsafe abortion is not just a health issue—it is a life-threatening crisis that demands immediate attention. Without comprehensive healthcare reforms, thousands of women will continue to die unnecessarily each year.

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