Associated Press: Abortion rate steady in poor nations, plunging in rich ones
“The rate of abortions in the developed world has dropped to an all-time low while remaining steady in poorer regions, where nearly 90 percent of the abortions worldwide occur, researchers say in a new study published Wednesday in the journal Lancet…” (Cheng, 5/11).

The Guardian: Criminalizing abortion does not cut number of terminations, says study
“One in four pregnancies ends in abortion worldwide — about 56 million a year — according to new global data which shows that criminalizing abortion does not make it any less frequent…” (Boseley, 5/11).

New York Times: Abortion Rates in Developed Countries Have Fallen Since 1990
“…The study, published Wednesday in The Lancet, found that the worldwide abortion rate dropped slightly from 1990 to 2014, to 35 from 40 abortions per 1,000 women of childbearing age. The decline is largely due to developed countries, where abortion rates dropped from 46 to 27 per 1,000. The United States has among the lowest rate, about 17 per 1,000. In developing countries, the rate has changed little, to 37 per 1,000, from 39…” (Belluck, 5/11).

Reuters: Abortion rates fall to historic low in wealthy countries, little changed elsewhere
“…The study — by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Guttmacher Institute — also found that imposing restrictive laws does little to lower abortion rates, but is more likely to force people into having unsafe terminations…” (Kelland, 5/12).

SciDev.Net: Abortion rates highest in nations that ban practice
“…The evidence indicates that access to good health care and modern contraception are the most important factors in reducing abortion rates, says Gilda Sedgh, the study’s lead author and a researcher at the Guttmacher Institute, a U.S. organization that aims to advance sexual and reproductive rights…” (Vesper, 5/12).

Washington Post: The world’s abortion divide: Plummeting rates, but only in developed countries
“…Among the other major findings are that three-fourths of abortions took place among married women, challenging the popular notion that most abortions are sought by unwed teens…” (Cha, 5/11).