In Mauritius, abortion is only legal in the cases of risk to life, risk to physical or mental health, risk of fetal impairment, pregnancy from rape, or pregnancy of a minor. Legal abortions must be approved by three physicians or by a police report, and they must be approved by an adult if performed on a minor. Illegal abortions are punishable by fines or prison.
During the colonial era, Mauritius inherited France's abortion ban. An complete ban on abortion in the 1838 penal code was in effect until the 21st century. In the 2000s, illegal abortions were frequent, but legislative debate was rare due to religious opposition to abortion. In 2012, Yatin Varma proposed an amendment legalizing abortion in certain cases, which passed with multipartisan support. International organizations and some religious leaders supported the bill, while other religious leaders opposed it. Organizations such as Muvman Liberation Fam and the Mauritius Family Planning and Welfare Association have supported legal abortion.
Abortion is a taboo subject in Mauritius. The abortion rate is about 10,000 to 15,000 per year, few of which are legally recorded. Abortions are frequent among adolescents and unmarried women, and are often motivated by birth control failure. The most common legal abortion method is medical abortion using Cytotec. Illegal abortions commonly use drugs or home remedies. The country has a lower rate of post-abortion care than others in Africa.