How prevalent is female genital cutting/mutilation in the world

According to UNICEF, at least 200 million girls and women who are alive today all over the world have undergone female genital cutting or mutilation (FGC/FGM). WHO states that, each year, at least 3 million girls are at risk of being subjected to the practice.

• FGM is a worldwide problem. It is practiced in Latin America and Eastern Europe. It is also practiced among some immigrant populations in North America, Western Europe, New Zealand and Australia.
• Females who have been subjected to this practice are concentrated in over 30 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East – where FGM is concentrated.

• Female genital cutting/mutilation can be found in 29 countries in Africa. FGC/FGM is not necessarily practiced by everyone in these countries. There are certain communities in each of the 29 African countries that practice it; they are found in: Somalia, Benin, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Togo, Chad, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Djibouti, Sierra Leone, Eritrea, Zambia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Gambia, Mauritania, Guinea, Uganda, Guinea-Bissau, Tanzania, Kenya, Senegal, Liberia, Niger, and Mali.

• The practice is highest in eight of the 29 African countries. In these eight countries, almost all girls undergo FGM: Somalia with a prevalence of 98%, Guinea (96%), Djibouti (93%), Egypt (91%), Eritrea and Mali both have a prevalence of 89%, and in both Sierra Leone and Sudan it is 88%.

• In Nigeria, information gathered by UNFPA and UNICEF shows that the practice is highest in South-West Nigeria, despite the high level of awareness and literacy found in the area.
• From research that was carried out, it was discovered that Osun had FGM prevalence of 76.3%, Ekiti had 71.2%, Oyo had 69.7%, Ebonyi had 55.6%, Imo had 48.8% and Lagos had 44.8%.

• In the Middle East, FGM occurs in Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Iran, Yemen, the State of Palestine and Iraq.

• Certain communities in Asian countries – like India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – also practice FGM.

• Some of the communities in South America known to engage in the practice of FGM are Peru, Columbia, Panama and Ecuador.

• It has also been reported that some communities in Eastern Europe practice FGM; they are found in the Russian Federation and Georgia.

• The practice is carried out among the immigrant population in western countries – such as Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand, and various European countries.