Related Articles
Middle East
22 April 2019
33,875,379
1.87%
Unknown. There are no national statistics on female genital cutting (FGC) in Saudi Arabia. It has been suggested that FGC occurs amongst migrant populations, and particularly in the south of Saudi Arabia along the border with Yemen.
A 2019 study published by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) found that 18% of nearly 1,000 women between 18 and 75 years had undergone FGC.
One Saudi cleric publicly backed the continuation of the practice, stating that it is a “noble” act. This support suggests that FGC could be practiced within native populations in Saudi Arabia.
Varied. The most commonly practised form of FGC is thought to be Type I. Within migrant populations, the type of FGC practised is likely to vary depending on the traditions of the ethnic group/country of heritage.
Unknown. There are anecdotal reports of girls undergoing FGC at birth, approximately up to the age of 6.
Unknown.
Legal.
39 in 2018 index, based on 2017 data.
11.1 deaths per 1,000 live births (2016).
12 deaths per 100,000 live births (2015).
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