In Gabon, abortion is only legal in the cases of risk to the mother's life, risk of birth defects, pregnancy from rape or incest, or if the mother is a minor in distress, up to ten weeks of pregnancy. Illegal abortions are punishable by prison or fines. Gabon has one of the highest rates of abortion in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Abortion was banned in Gabon under French colonial law, and later by a total ban in 1969. In the 1990s and 2000s, public concerns arose about unsafe abortions and teenage pregnancy, and certain therapeutic abortions were made legal. The current abortion law is from the penal code of 2019. The parliament of Gabon made the abortion law more permissive in 2021, but did not add legal grounds. In 2023, the government proposed easing restrictions further. The majority of people in Gabon believe abortion should be illegal. Research groups have advocated for legalization.
Gabon's high abortion rate is associated with its high rate of teenage pregnancy and low rate of birth control usage. Abortion complications are a common cause of maternal mortality, though the rate has decreased in the 21st century. Many people self-induce abortions using plants or using misoprostol, which is available over-the-counter. Post-abortion care patients often face stigma from providers. In the 21st century, initiatives have made post-abortion care safer in Libreville and educated midwives about procedures.