Legal status of human sterilization by country

This article provides an overview of human sterilization by country. While many countries permit voluntary sterilization for contraceptive purposes, some permit it only for medical or eugenic purposes. Additional restrictions may include minimum age, parental or spousal consent.[1]

Laws regarding sterilization for contraceptive purposes around the world:
   Legal from the age of 18
   Legal from the age of 21, 25 or 18 for those with two children
   Legal from the age of 25
   Legal from the age of 30, 35 or 40
   Legal for those with at least 3, 4 or 5 children sometimes with additional age requirements
   Illegal
   No data

Country Compulsory Voluntary for contraceptive purposes Notes
Albania Albania Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect
Andorra Andorra Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect Yes[1] Since 1996
Argentina Argentina Yes[2] As of 2009
Australia Australia Yes[1] Since 1977
Austria Austria Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect Yes[1] 25+ years for contraceptive purposes. Since 1974
The Bahamas Bahamas Yes[2] As of 2009
Bangladesh Bangladesh For refugees Yes[1]
Belarus Belarus Yes[1]

[1]

35+years or at least two children
BelgiumBelgium Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect
Belize Belize Yes[2] As of 2009
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect
Botswana Botswana Yes[1]
Brazil Brazil Illegal in most cases, although both the US and Brazilian governments have carried out sterilisation of Brazilians in the 20th and 21st centuries under various rationales Yes[1][2] 21+ years or <21 with two children for contraceptive purposes. Since 2022
Canada Canada Varies per province; sterilisations particularly of indigenous individuals performed in the 20th and 21st centuries Yes[1] Since 1979
Cape Verde Cape Verde Yes[2] As of 2009
Chile Chile Yes[1] Since 2001
China China De juris illegal but practiced, particularly against Uyghurs Yes[1]
Colombia Colombia Yes[1] Since 1984
Comoros Comoros Yes[2] As of 2009
Costa Rica Costa Rica Yes[1] Since 1999
Ivory Coast Côte d'Ivoire Yes[2] As of 2009
Croatia Croatia Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect Yes[1] 35+ for contraceptive purposes. Since 1978
Cuba Cuba Yes[1] 32+ years with several children for contraceptive purposes. Since 1968
Cyprus Cyprus Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect
Czech Republic Czech Republic Yes[1] 21+ years for contraceptive reasons. Since 2012
Denmark Denmark Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect Yes[1] 25+ years for contraceptive reasons. Since 1976
Dominican Republic Dominican Republic Yes[1] 40+ years with one child, 35+ with three children, 30+ with five children or 25+ with six children for contraceptive purposes. Since 1972
Ecuador Ecuador Yes[1] 25+ years with three children for contraceptive purposes. Since 1992
El Salvador El Salvador Yes[1] Since 1979
Estonia Estonia Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect Yes[3] 35+years or at least 3 children. Since 1998
Fiji Fiji Yes[1]
Finland Finland Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect Yes[1] 30+ years or <30 years and three children for contraceptive purposes. Since 1985
France France Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect Yes[1] Since 2001
Georgia (country) Georgia Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect Yes[2] As of 2009
Germany Germany Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect Yes[1]
Ghana Ghana Yes[1]
Greece Greece Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect
Guatemala Guatemala No[1]
Honduras Honduras Yes[1] 35+ years with one child or 24–43 with three children for contraceptive purposes.
Hungary Hungary Yes[4] 40+ years or three children
Iceland Iceland Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect Yes[1] 25+ years for contraceptive purposes
India India Yes[1] 20+ (women) or 25+ (men) years for contraceptive purposes, less if couple has two children. Spousal consent and has to have had one child that is a year old
Indonesia Indonesia Yes[1]
Iran Iran No In 2021 sterilization was prohibited except for medical purposes.[5]
Republic of Ireland Ireland Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect
Israel Israel Yes[1]
Italy Italy Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect Yes[1]
Japan Japan No[1] Current law since 1996. In practice, contraceptive sterilizations are performed routinely, with health reasons given as the justification.[1]
Kenya Kenya Yes[1]
Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan Yes[6]
Latvia Latvia Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect
Lesotho Lesotho Yes[1]
Liechtenstein Liechtenstein Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect Yes[1] 25+ years for contraceptive purposes.
Lithuania Lithuania No[7]
Luxembourg Luxembourg Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect Yes[1]
Mali Mali Yes[2] As of 2009
Malaysia Malaysia No According to 1981 fatwa sterilization is forbidden for men and women. Temporary contraceptive methods may be permitted for health and economic reasons.[8]
Malta Malta Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect
Mexico Mexico Yes[1]
Moldova Moldova Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect Yes[2] As of 2009
Monaco Monaco Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect
Mongolia Mongolia Yes[1] Woman must have many[quantify] children
Montenegro Montenegro Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect
Morocco Morocco Yes[2] As of 2009
Myanmar Myanmar No[1] Since 1963
Namibia Namibia Yes[2] As of 2009
Nepal Nepal Yes[1]
Netherlands Netherlands Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect Yes[1]
New Zealand New Zealand Yes[1]
Nicaragua Nicaragua Yes[1]
Niger Niger Yes[1] 35+ years with four children for contraceptive purposes.
Nigeria Nigeria Yes[1]
North Macedonia North Macedonia Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect Yes[2] As of 2009
Norway Norway Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect Yes[1] 25+ years for contraceptive purposes
Pakistan Pakistan Yes[1]
Panama Panama Yes[1] Five children for contraceptive purposes.
Paraguay Paraguay Yes[1]
Peru Peru Yes[1]
Philippines Philippines Yes[1]
Poland Poland Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect No Reproductive sterilisation of men (vasectomy) is legal in Poland, while other sterilization methods have been defined as a criminal act since 1997[9]: 19  and remains so as of 5 September 2019, under Article 156 §1, which also covers making someone blind, deaf or mute, of the 1997 law.[10]: 64  The original 1997 law punished contraventions with a prison sentence of one to ten years[9] and the updated law as of 5 September 2019 sets a prison sentence of at least 3 years.[10] The prison sentence is a maximum of three years if the sterilisation is involuntary, under Art. 156 §2.[9][10]: 64 
Portugal Portugal Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect Yes[1] 25+ years for contraceptive purposes.
Romania Romania Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect Yes[1]
Russia Russia Yes[1] 35+ years or <35 with two children.
San Marino San Marino Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect
Serbia Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect
Singapore Singapore Yes[1]
Slovenia Slovenia Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect Yes[1] 35+ years for contraceptive purposes
Rwanda Rwanda No[1]
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia No[1]
Senegal Senegal Yes[2] As of 2009
Slovakia Slovak Republic Yes[2] As of 2009
South Africa South Africa Yes[1]
South Korea South Korea Yes[1] Since 1973
Spain Spain Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect Yes[1]
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Yes[1]
Sudan Sudan No[1] Since 1990
Sweden Sweden Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect Yes[1] 25+ years for contraceptive purposes; 18–25 for eugenic, health (women only) or sex change reasons.
Switzerland Switzerland Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect Yes[1]
Taiwan Taiwan Yes[1] Since 1984
Tanzania Tanzania Yes[1]
Thailand Thailand Yes[1]
Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago Yes[1]
Tunisia Tunisia Yes[1] Since 1973. At least four children required.
Turkey Turkey Yes[1] Since 1983
Uganda Uganda Yes[1] Since 1993
Ukraine Ukraine Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect
United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates No Women can opt for sterilisation if they have had "any medical illness that could endanger their life in future due to pregnancy".[11]
United Kingdom United Kingdom Illegal since 2014 when the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence came into effect Yes[1]
United States United States Yes[1]
Uruguay Uruguay Yes[2] As of 2009
Venezuela Venezuela No[1] Since 1971
Vietnam Vietnam Yes[1] Since 1989
Zambia Zambia Yes[1] Since 1965
Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Yes[1] Since 1985

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb EngenderHealth (2002). "4". Contraceptive sterilization : global issues and trends. John A. Ross. New York, NY: EngenderHealth. ISBN 1-885063-31-8. OCLC 49322541.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Reproductive Health Laws Around the World
  3. ^ "Raseduse katkestamise ja steriliseerimise seadus". Riigiteataja. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Year 1997. CLIV. Hungarian law about healthcare".
  5. ^ Iran: Population Law Violates Women’s Rights, 10 November 2021
  6. ^ "Law of the Kyrgyz Republic on the protection of citizens' health in the Kyrgyz Republic".
  7. ^ "2016–2017 Human Rights in Lithuania" (PDF). Lithuania has not legalized voluntary surgical sterilization, as a family planning method
  8. ^ "Reproductive rights: Malaysia" (PDF). p. 94.
  9. ^ a b c "553 Ustawa z dnia 6 czerwca 1997 r. – Kodeks karny" [553 Law of 6 June 1997 – Criminal code] (PDF). Sejm. 6 June 1997. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 September 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  10. ^ a b c "Ustawa z dnia 6 czerwca 1997 r. – Kodeks karny – Opracowano na podstawie t.j. Dz. U. z 2018 r. poz. 1600, 2077, z 2019 r. poz. 730, 858, 870, 1135, 1579" [Law of 6 June 1997 – Criminal code – Updated on the basis of Dz. U. 2018 parts 1600, 2077, and Dz. U. 2019 parts 730, 858, 870, 1135, 1579] (PDF). Sejm. 5 September 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 September 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  11. ^ Muslim, Nina (2 April 2008). "Women now able to undergo sterilisation at private hospitals". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 17 December 2021.