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.
Country Voluntary for contraceptive purposes Compulsory Notes Andorra Since 1996 Argentina Reproductive Health Laws Around the World As of 2009 Australia Since 1977 Austria Forced sterilisation of persons with disabilities in the EU 25+ years for contraceptive purposes. Since 1974 Bahamas As of 2009 Bangladesh Belarus 35+years or at least two children Belgium Belize As of 2009 Botswana Brazil 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 21+ years or <21 with two children for contraceptive purposes. Since 2022 Bulgaria Canada Since 1979. Sterilisations particularly of indigenous individuals performed in the 20th and 21st centuries. Ban proposed in 2024.Bill to make forced and coerced sterilization a criminal offence before Senate committee, 29 February 2024 Cape Verde As of 2009 Chile Since 2001 China Colombia Since 1984 Comoros As of 2009 Costa Rica Since 1999 Côte d'Ivoire As of 2009 Croatia 35+ for contraceptive purposes. Since 1978 Cuba 32+ years with several children for contraceptive purposes. Since 1968 Cyprus Czech Republic 21+ years for contraceptive reasons. Since 2012 Denmark 25+ years for contraceptive reasons. Since 1976 Dominican Republic 40+ years with one child, 35+ with three children, 30+ with five children or 25+ with six children for contraceptive purposes. Since 1972 Ecuador 25+ years with three children for contraceptive purposes. Since 1992 El Salvador Since 1979 Estonia 35+years or at least 3 children. Since 1998 Fiji Finland 30+ years or <30 years and three children for contraceptive purposes. Since 1985 France Since 2001 Georgia As of 2009 Germany Ghana Greece Guatemala Honduras 35+ years with one child or 24–43 with three children for contraceptive purposes. Hungary 40+ years or three children Iceland 25+ years for contraceptive purposes. Forced sterilizations banned since 2019 except for medical reasons.Despite Bans, Disabled Women Are Still Being Sterilized in Europe India 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 Iran In 2021 sterilization was prohibited except for medical purposes.Iran: Population Law Violates Women’s Rights, 10 November 2021 Ireland Israel Italy Japan In practice, contraceptive sterilizations are performed routinely, with health reasons given as the justification. Forced sterilization carried out between 1948 and 1996.Japan sterilisation law victims included nine-year-olds, 20 June 2023 Kenya Kyrgyzstan Latvia Lesotho Liechtenstein 25+ years for contraceptive purposes. Lithuania Luxembourg Mali As of 2009 Malaysia According to 1981 fatwa sterilization is forbidden for men and women. Temporary contraceptive methods may be permitted for health and economic reasons. Malta Mexico Moldova As of 2009 Monaco Mongolia Woman must have many children Montenegro Morocco As of 2009 Myanmar Since 1963 Namibia As of 2009 Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger 35+ years with four children for contraceptive purposes. Nigeria North Macedonia As of 2009 Norway 25+ years for contraceptive purposes Pakistan Panama Five children for contraceptive purposes. Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Reproductive sterilisation of men (vasectomy) is legal in Poland, while other sterilization methods have been defined as a criminal act since 1997 and remains so , under Article 156 §1, which also covers making someone blind, deaf or mute, of the 1997 law. The original 1997 law punished contraventions with a prison sentence of one to ten years and the updated law sets a prison sentence of at least 3 years. The prison sentence is a maximum of three years if the sterilisation is involuntary, under Art. 156 §2. Portugal 25+ years for contraceptive purposes. Romania Russia 35+ years or <35 with two children. Singapore Slovenia 35+ years for contraceptive purposes Rwanda Saudi Arabia Senegal As of 2009 Slovak Republic As of 2009 South Africa South Korea Since 1973 Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Since 1990 Sweden 25+ years for contraceptive purposes; 18–25 for eugenic, health (women only) or sex change reasons. Switzerland See Human sterilization in Switzerland Taiwan Since 1984 Tanzania Thailand Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Since 1973. At least four children required. Turkey Since 1983 Uganda Since 1993 United Arab Emirates Women can opt for sterilisation if they have had "any medical illness that could endanger their life in future due to pregnancy". United Kingdom United States Uruguay As of 2009 Venezuela Since 1971 Vietnam Since 1989 Zambia Since 1965 Zimbabwe Since 1985
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