Mozambique

The former Portuguese colony of Mozambique gained independence in 1975, had a population of 21.4 million in 2007, and a female life expectancy of 40.1, one of the lowest in the world.

The country has a birth rate of 35.2 per 1,000 population, and an infant mortality rate of 129.2 per 1,000 live births, one of the highest in the world. The maternal mortality rate at 1 per 100 births is also one of the highest in the world. Abortion is legal only to save the woman's life or preserve her mental or physical health, and only up to 12 weeks gestation for preserving life and health. A 2008 study found that the 12-week rule tended to exclude women who were younger, poorer, and had lower ...