Abortion law is legislation and common law which pertains to the provision of abortion . Abortion has been a controversial subject in many societies through history because of the moral, ethical, practical, and political power issues that surround it. It has been banned frequently and otherwise limited by law. However, abortions continue to be common in many areas where they are illegal; abortion rates are similar in countries where the procedure is legal and in countries where it is not according to the World Health Organization (WHO), [ 2 ] due to unavailability of modern contraceptives in areas where abortion is illegal. [ 3 ] The number of abortions worldwide is declining due to increased access to contraception according to WHO. [ 2 ] Almost two thirds of the world's women currently reside in countries where abortion may be obtained on request for a broad range of social , economic or personal reasons. Abortion laws vary widely by nation. Seven countries in Latin America and Europe ban the procedure entirely.