PIP: This is a survey of abortion legislation in the countries of the world. There are 30-55 million abortions performed in the world every year. The USSR legalized abortion in 1920, for medical and social indications. In 1936 it was forbidden and in 1955 again permitted. In 1956 the East European countries made abortion easier, but Bulgaria in 1966 and Rumania in 1967 introduced limitations. On the whole, the second half of the twentieth century has seen a liberalization of abortion law everywhere, permitting it for the physical or mental health of the woman. The law is especially liberal in the US and Scandinavian countries, where abortion is permitted at the simple request of the woman. This liberalization is rooted in the desire to avoid the harm done to the woman's health by illegal abortions, also to reduce the birthrate (Tunisia, Singapore). The Catholic countries of Europe today have the strictest abortion laws (Ireland, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Luxemburg, Malta, Monaco, Portugal) and also the South American countries. In some of these countries the sale of contraceptives is prohibited. Prohibition of abortion, however, does not stop it, only leads to an increase in illegal abortions. In some of these countries the number of illegal abortions is greater than the number of legal ones in countries with liberal laws. Bolivia, for instance, expends 60% of its whole public health budget for maternity and childbirth and taking care of women suffering the effects of an illegal abortion. This is the principal cause of death for women of childbearing ago in many countries. Techniques of menstrual regulation, however, are not considered abortion, which may be a possible way around these laws.