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FGM: A Global Picture

FGM: A Global Picture

As of 2025, we are aware of at least 94 countries* across the globe where there is currently available evidence of women and girls living with FGM/C or who are at risk of having FGM/C performed on them. 

FGM in the Asia Pacific region, from The Time is Now: End Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting, An Urgent Need for Global Response 2025

Laws Against Female Genital Mutilation: A Global Picture 

Of the 94 countries where female genital mutilation is practiced, 59 countries have specifically prohibited FGM under their national laws, either through a specific anti-female genital mutilation law or by prohibiting female genital mutilation under a criminal provision in other domestic laws such as the criminal or penal code, child protection laws, violence against women laws or domestic violence laws.

  • Laws against FGM/C remain most common in Africa, with at least 50% of total laws globally coming from the 28 countries that have enacted specific laws or specific legal provisions against FGM/C.
  • Apart from the African continent, 44% of total laws against FGM/C are of countries where FGM/C is most commonly practiced by diaspora communities, with 21 European countries, the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand all having specific laws or legal provisions relating to FGM/C. Georgia has also passed a law against FGM/C.**. 
  • In contrast, in the Middle East, only Iraq (Kurdistan), Iran, and Oman have specific laws or legal provisions banning FGM/C.***
  • 4 In Asia, only Indonesia has enacted a specific legal prohibition against FGM/C.****
  • There are also no specific laws or legal provisions against FGM/C in Latin America, though bills to address FGM/C are currently pending before the Colombian Congress.

Explore the full joint report, The Time is Now: End Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting, An Urgent Need for Global Response 2025

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* This information is correct up to February 2025. Read the full list of countries here. 

** In Georgia, female genital mutilation is commonly practiced by non-diaspora communities. 

*** Egyptian law also specifically prohibits female genital mutilation. However, Egypt has been included as part of Africa as opposed to the Middle East for the purposes of this report. 

**** Cyprus and Georgia have passed specific prohibitions against female genital mutilation. Though Cyprus and Georgia are sometimes considered part of Asia, they are included within the European continent for the purposes of this report as Cyprus is a member of the EU and Georgia is a State Party to the Council.