SUMMARY
In 2000, the rate of induced abortion among teenagers was lower in Denmark than inFinland for the .first time in ten years, while the abortion rate for 20-24-year-oldwomen was lower, but increasing in Finland and decreasing in Denmark. Based onpublished datafor 1973-2000, an analysis was made of whether the increasing abortionrates in Finland rejlect an increasing occurrence of unintended pregnancies orwhether there is a lower propensity to give birth ifpregnant.The .findings show that the most recent increase is related both to increasing rates ofpregnancies and a lower propensity to choose to give birth ifpregnant, while the lowabortion rates in the mid-l 990s were characterized by both a decreasing rate of pregnanciesand a higher propensity to give birth. Possible explanations can be found inboth the reduction of the sex education programs in schools in Finland and changedliving conditions for families with children.