C-Section Rates by Country 2025

A C-section (short for Caesarian section) is a medical procedure, used during childbirth, in which the baby is delivered through an incision made in the mother’s lower abdomen (and uterus). Reasons why a doctor may choose to perform a c-section include breech presentation (when the baby has not rotated to head-downward position), complications with the placenta or umbilical cord, twins, and high blood pressure in the mother. In some countries, more than 30% of the total number of babies born each day are born via c-section.

Top 10 Countries with the Most C-Sections Each Year

The country with the highest rate of C-sections yearly is Turkey, according to the statistics of 2021. In 2021, there were 584 Caesarian sections per 1,000 live births in the nation of Turkey. This is considerably higher than the C-section rate for the country that is second on this list, which is Bulgaria. In 2021, 46.5% of all live births in Bulgaria (465 out of 1,000) were delivered by Caesarean section.

A total of 443 Caesarian sections per 1,000 live births happened in Romania in 2021. Poland came in fourth in terms of C-sections per 1,000 live births with 422 for that year.

Ireland Is Fifth in C Section Rates by Country

Ireland is another European country that is high on this list. In 2021, 355 C-sections were performed per every 1,000 live births in Ireland. Hungary is the next country on the list with 346 Caesarian sections per 1,000 live births for 2021. The nation of Switzerland follows Hungary on the list with 326 C-sections per 1,000 live births that year.

What Are Some Countries with Lower C-Section Rates?

Quite a few countries have higher C-section rates. However, some countries have relatively low C-section rates. The country of Israel is one such nation, with only 143 C-sections per 1,000 live births in 2021.

Iceland is another country with a fairly low C-section rate. In 2021, 144 C-sections per 1,000 births were performed in Iceland. The country with the third lowest rate of C-sections per 1,000 live births as of 2021 is Norway. Only 156 C-sections per 1,000 live births happened in Norway during 2021.

Are C-Sections Elective or Medically Necessary?

The United States of America has one of the highest C section rates by country among countries that are a part of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, also known as the OECD. One possible reason for this is the fact that many C-sections in the US are elective but not medically necessary.

According to medical data, it is not advisable to have a C-section unless medically necessary. This is because the risks of C-sections often outweigh the benefits when the C-section is elective. For this reason, natural birth is the best way to go whenever medically possible.