
In the 2020 Contraception Policy Atlas, Belgium stands out with a whopping 96.4% score, leaving the 2nd in rank – France – far behind. Belgium beat France by improving women’s access to emergency contraception and reimbursing contraception for women under the age of 25. Former Chair of the 'Parliamentarians for the 2030 Agenda' and recently appointed Minister of Pensions in Belgium’s new federal government, Karine Lalieux has been one of the driving forces behind the new reimbursement schemes.
The Contraception Policy Atlas developed by EPF compares 46 countries by looking at their policies regarding access to contraceptives, including the reimbursement schemes and family planning counselling as well as at the available public online information.
The Contraception Policy Atlas developed by EPF compares 46 countries by looking at their policies regarding access to contraceptives, including the reimbursement schemes and family planning counselling as well as at the available public online information.
Belgium stands out because of its reimbursement of contraceptives for young and vulnerable women, including long-term contraception, as well as government supported websites, such as the multilingual website zanzu.be for migrants and allesoverseks.be (everythingaboutsex.be), a website that specifically addresses the needs of Belgian young people.
Compared to the Benelux, France and the UK, contraception policies are generally weaker in Central and Eastern European countries. Poland, Hungary and Russia have the worst scores in terms of access to contraceptives. While Poland has a publicly funded healthcare system, it does not reimburse any kind of contraception and does not have any government-supported website about contraceptive methods.
Detailed information about every country can be found on an interactive map.
Compared to the Benelux, France and the UK, contraception policies are generally weaker in Central and Eastern European countries. Poland, Hungary and Russia have the worst scores in terms of access to contraceptives. While Poland has a publicly funded healthcare system, it does not reimburse any kind of contraception and does not have any government-supported website about contraceptive methods.
Detailed information about every country can be found on an interactive map.