Model-based estimates offer an opportunity to observe and assess unintended pregnancy and abortion over time and, because they enable comparability across borders and groups, to do so for individual countries, for regions and globally. Estimates for regions and subregions, as defined by the United Nations Statistics Division groupings,^* can offer advocates, policymakers, researchers and others valuable insight into sexual and reproductive health and autonomy. Regional estimates can help reveal disparities and areas where continued investment is needed to ensure that individuals can access the full spectrum of quality sexual and reproductive health care.

The estimates below provide an overview of the incidence of unintended pregnancy and abortion in Asia from 1990 through 2019; the values are based on average annual estimates for five-year time periods. To view these estimates for countries within this region, find specific country profiles on guttmacher.org.

Unintended pregnancy and abortion in Central Asia

• In Central Asia, the unintended pregnancy rate declined by 61% between 1990–1994 and 2015–2019.
• During that same period, the abortion rate declined by 61%.
• The share of unintended pregnancies ending in abortion remained at around 80%.
• In 2015–2019, there were a total of 2,610,000 pregnancies annually.
• Of these, 705,000 pregnancies were unintended and 560,000 ended in abortion.

Unintended pregnancy and abortion in Eastern Asia

• In Eastern Asia, the unintended pregnancy rate increased by 4% between 1990–1994 and 2015–2019, but this longer trend included a decrease of 8% by 1995–1999, followed by an increase of 13%.
• During that same period, the abortion rate increased by 12%.
• The share of unintended pregnancies ending in abortion remained at around 76%.
• In 2015–2019, there were a total of 43,400,000 pregnancies annually.
• Of these, 24,800,000 pregnancies were unintended and 18,600,000 ended in abortion.

Unintended pregnancy and abortion in Southeast Asia

• In Southeast Asia, the unintended pregnancy rate declined by 21% between 1990–1994 and 2015–2019.
• During that same period, the abortion rate increased by 21%.
• The share of unintended pregnancies ending in abortion rose from 42% to 65%.
• In 2015–2019, there were a total of 20,500,000 pregnancies annually.
• Of these, 9,270,000 pregnancies were unintended and 5,990,000 ended in abortion.

Unintended pregnancy and abortion in Southern Asia

• In Southern Asia, the unintended pregnancy rate declined by 26% between 1990–1994 and 2015–2019.
• During that same period, the abortion rate increased by 22%, first decreasing by 11% until 2000–2004 and then increasing by 38%.
• The share of unintended pregnancies ending in abortion rose from 44% to 72%.
• In 2015–2019, there were a total of 70,600,000 pregnancies annually.
• Of these, 31,800,000 pregnancies were unintended and 22,800,000 ended in abortion.

Unintended pregnancy and abortion in Western Asia

• In Western Asia, the unintended pregnancy rate declined by 37% between 1990–1994 and 2015–2019.
• During that same period, the abortion rate declined by 24%.
• The share of unintended pregnancies ending in abortion rose from 53% to 64%.
• In 2015–2019, there were a total of 10,900,000 pregnancies annually.
• Of these, 5,940,000 pregnancies were unintended and 3,780,000 ended in abortion.