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While Nigeria's abortion laws are some of the most restrictive in the world, the country ranks top among countries its citizens are in search of abortion pills, a new survey has revealed.

Nigeria and Ghana are the two countries with the highest search interest in Misoprostol, an abortion pill, the BBC reports.

According to the BBC, data from countries who search for abortion pills the most was sourced from Google.
 
Misoprostol is a medication typically used as a combination therapy to bring about an abortion. This combination is believed to be more than 95 per cent effective during the first 50 days of pregnancy.

"How to use Misoprostol", "Misoprostol price", "buy Misoprostol" and "Misoprostol dosage" are among the most common searches around abortion, according to the survey.

The new survey puts to question the effectiveness of the ban on abortions in countries like Nigeria.
 
Of the 25 countries with highest search interest in Misoprostol, 11 are in Africa and 14 in are in Latin America.

The BBC survey further revealed that countries with the strictest laws, where abortion is allowed only to save a woman's life or banned altogether, have over 10 times higher search interest in abortion pill 'Misoprostol' compared to countries with no restrictions.

By buying pills online and sharing medical advice through WhatsApp groups, women are increasingly turning to technology to sidestep legal barriers to abortion.

While abortion is legal in Ghana only in cases of rape, incest, foetal impairment or to preserve a woman's mental health, Nigeria's abortion laws are stricter. Abortion is only allowed in Nigeria in situations where a woman's life is in danger.