Facts

Key Facts & Statistics

Female Genital Cutting (FGC)

WORLDWIDE

1. Female genital cutting includes procedures that intentionally alter or injure female genital organs for non-medical reason.
2. Procedures can cause severe bleeding and problems urinating, and later, potential childbirth complications and newborn deaths.
3. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates between 100 and 140 million women and girls have undergone a form of the procedure.
4. WHO also estimates that about 3 million girls are at risk each year.
5. It is mostly carried out on young girls sometime between infancy and age 15 years.
6. In Africa, an estimated 92 million girls from 10 years of age and above have undergone FGC.
7. FGC is internationally recognized as a violation of the human rights of girls and women.

Source: The World Health Organization, www.who.int

ETHIOPIA

1. The practice of female circumcision in Ethiopia is widespread: 80% of all women have been circumcised.
2. When asked whether the practice should continue, 60% of all women stated that they supported circumcision.
3. 92% of circumcisions were performed by a traditional circumciser; less than 1% were performed by a health professional.

Source: Demographic & Health Surveys, www.measuredhs.com