Prevalence of female genital mutilation

It is estimated that more than 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation according to data from the 31 countries where population level data exist. The practice is mainly concentrated in western, eastern, and north-eastern regions of Africa, as well as in some countries in the Middle East and Asia.

With growing migration, there has been an increase in the number of girls and women in Europe, Australia and North America who have either undergone female genital mutilation or who may be at risk of being subjected to the practice. FGM is therefore a global concern.

While there has been an overall decline in the prevalence of FGM over the last three decades in the younger age groups, not all countries have made progress and the pace of decline has been uneven. Current progress is insufficient to keep up with increasing population growth. If trends continue, the number of girls and women undergoing FGM will rise significantly in the next 15 years.

In addition, some health workers themselves are performing FGM, impeding progress in the road to FGM abandonment, and violated their ethical obligation to do no harm.