It is a mistake to think this is just a "foreign" issue or something tucked away in a single corner of the globe. Honestly, when people ask where is female genital cutting practiced, they usually expect a short list of three or four countries in East Africa. That is not the case. Not even close.
The reality is much messier. It's more widespread.
We are talking about a practice that has touched the lives of over 230 million women and girls alive today, according to the latest data from UNICEF. It happens in the high-rises of London and the rural villages of The Gambia. It occurs in clandestine clinics in Michigan and traditional ceremonies in Indonesia. It’s a global health crisis that hides in plain sight because people are too uncomfortable to say the words out loud.
The Geographic Heartland and the Numbers
If we look at the sheer density, the practice—often referred to as FGM/C (Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting)—is most concentrated in a band of countries across Africa. From the Atlantic coast to the Horn of Africa.
In Somalia, the prevalence is staggering. It's almost universal. Recent surveys suggest about 99% of women between 15 and 49 have undergone some form of the procedure. It’s the norm there. In Guinea, it’s around 95%. Djibouti is right up there too. In these places, it isn't just a "tradition"; it is often viewed as a prerequisite for marriage or social acceptance. If you don't do it, you're an outcast. Simple as that.
But then you look at Egypt.
Egypt is a massive outlier in many ways. While it is technically in North Africa, its cultural influence is vast. Despite legal bans and heavy campaigning by the government and NGOs, the prevalence remains high, particularly in rural areas along the Nile. It’s often medicalized there. Instead of a traditional practitioner, a doctor or nurse does it in a clinic. They think it's safer that way. It's not. It still carries the same long-term psychological and physical trauma, even if the room is sterile.
Beyond the African Continent
You can't ignore Asia.
For a long time, the international community basically ignored what was happening in Southeast Asia and parts of the Middle East. We now know that where is female genital cutting practiced includes significant populations in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Maldives. In Indonesia, a 2013 national survey found that about half of girls under the age of 11 had undergone some form of cutting. It's often a symbolic nick there, but it still falls under the WHO definition.
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In the Middle East, it’s prevalent in Yemen, Iraq (specifically the Kurdistan region), and parts of Oman and the UAE. In Iraq’s Kurdistan region, the numbers have actually been dropping significantly due to aggressive local activism, showing that change is possible when the community leads the way.
The "Hidden" Practice in Western Nations
This is where it gets uncomfortable for people in the West.
It is happening in the United States. It's happening in Canada, Australia, and across Europe.
It usually manifests in two ways. First, there is "vacation cutting." Families living in the West take their daughters back to their home countries during summer break to have the procedure done. Second, there are underground practitioners operating within immigrant communities in Western cities.
The CDC has estimated that over 500,000 women and girls in the U.S. are at risk of or have already undergone FGM/C. That is a massive number. It’s not a "them" problem. It’s an "us" problem. In 2017, a high-profile federal case in Michigan involving a doctor performing the procedure on minor girls sent shockwaves through the country. It proved that professional medical licenses don't always prevent this from happening on American soil.
Why Does This Keep Happening?
It is rarely about "hate."
That is the hardest thing for outsiders to grasp. Most parents who put their daughters through this believe they are doing something good. They think they are preserving the girl's chastity. They think they are making her "clean." They think they are ensuring she can get married and be supported by a husband.
In many communities, FGC is a rite of passage. It marks the transition from childhood to womanhood.
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Dr. Nafissatou Diop, a long-time expert with the UNFPA, has often pointed out that this is a social convention. It’s like a "herd" behavior. If everyone in your village cuts their daughters, and you don't, your daughter might never find a husband. You might be shunned. The social pressure is immense. It’s a collective decision, which is why individual families often feel they have no choice.
The Religious Misconception
Here is a big one: Religion.
Many people assume this is an Islamic practice. It’s not. There is no mention of female genital cutting in the Quran. While some local religious leaders might support it, many others—including the highest authorities at Al-Azhar in Cairo—have issued fatwas against it.
The practice predates both Islam and Christianity. It’s found among Muslims, Christians, Jews (the Beta Israel community in Ethiopia), and followers of traditional indigenous religions. It’s a cultural practice that has latched onto religious identity, not a religious requirement.
What the Procedure Actually Looks Like
The WHO classifies this into four types. It’s not just one thing.
- Type I (Clitoridectomy): Partial or total removal of the clitoris.
- Type II (Excision): Removal of the clitoris and the labia minora.
- Type III (Infibulation): The most extreme. The vaginal opening is narrowed by creating a seal. The skin is cut and repositioned. Sometimes it’s sewn together.
- Type IV: All other harmful procedures, like pricking, piercing, or scraping.
The immediate risks are terrifying. Hemorrhage. Infection. Sepsis. Tetanus. Because it’s often done with unsterile tools—razor blades, shards of glass, or even sharpened stones—the danger of death is very real.
Long-term? It’s a lifetime of pain. Chronic urinary tract infections. Kidney failure. Complications in childbirth that can kill both the mother and the baby. And the psychological scars? PTSD, anxiety, and depression are incredibly common among survivors.
The Movement for Change
Is it going away? Yes. But slowly.
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In 1990, about 1 in 2 girls in the countries where data is tracked underwent cutting. Today, that’s down to about 1 in 3. That is progress, but it’s not enough.
The most effective programs aren't the ones where Westerners go in and wag their fingers. The programs that work are "Community-Led Total Abandonment." Organizations like Tostan in Senegal have had massive success. They lead communities through human rights education sessions. They don't start by talking about cutting; they start by talking about the right to health and the right to be free from violence.
Eventually, the village makes a collective decision to stop. They hold a public declaration. When the whole village stops at once, the social pressure disappears. No one is "dishonored" because everyone agreed to change the rules.
Legal Bans and Their Limits
Most countries where FGC is practiced now have laws against it.
The Problem? Enforcement is spotty. In many places, the law exists on paper, but local police are hesitant to arrest grandmothers and respected community members. Plus, criminalizing it can sometimes drive it further underground, making it even more dangerous.
What works better is a "carrot and stick" approach. Use the law to signal that the state doesn't approve, but spend the bulk of the resources on education and supporting survivors.
Where is Female Genital Cutting Practiced: Actionable Insights for the Informed
If you want to support the end of this practice, you have to be smart about it. It’s not about "saving" people; it's about supporting the people already doing the work on the ground.
- Support Grassroots, Not Just Giants: Large NGOs do great work, but organizations like Tostan or Safe Hands for Girls (founded by survivor Jaha Dukureh) work directly with the communities. They understand the nuances that an outsider never will.
- Challenge the Medicalization: If you hear someone argue that it’s "okay if a doctor does it," shut that down. Medicalization doesn't make it right; it just gives a human rights violation a sterile coat. It still causes long-term harm and reinforces the idea that female bodies need "fixing."
- Local Awareness: If you are in the US, UK, or Europe, be aware that this happens in your backyard. Support local clinics that specialize in care for survivors. Many women don't even realize that their chronic pain or complications are linked to something that happened to them when they were five years old.
- Educate Without Demonizing: When discussing where is female genital cutting practiced, avoid using language that paints entire cultures as "savage." This is a complex social trap. Compassion for the families—who often think they are doing the right thing—is actually more effective for persuasion than raw anger.
- Focus on Legislation and Funding: Advocate for continued funding of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme to Eliminate FGM. It is the largest global effort to stop the practice and it needs consistent political and financial backing to reach the 2030 goal of total elimination.
The map of where this happens is shrinking, but the roots are deep. Understanding that it’s a global issue—not just a regional one—is the first step toward actually solving it. It’s about bodily autonomy. It’s about the right of a girl to grow up intact. That’s a universal value, no matter what part of the map you’re looking at.