FGM is prevalent in 28 African countries, in a few Arab and Asian countries (e.g. Yemen, a few ethnic groups in Oman, Indonesia and Malaysia), and among certain African immigrants in the West. An estimated 130 million girls and women worldwide have undergone the practice, with another two million girls being affected each year. Types I and II account for 80 to 85% of all cases, although the proportion may vary greatly from country to country. For instance in Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan most women undergo Type Ill. Infibulation is practised on a smaller scale in parts of Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Kenya and Mali.
Prevalence of female Genital Mutilation according to findings from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS by Macro International)

Source: «Prevalence of FGC by country», in YODER, P. Stanley et Mary Mahy, Female Genital Cutting in Guinea : Quantitative and Qualitative Research Strategies, DHS Analytical Studies n. 5, Calverton, Maryland, ORC Macro, page 6. Data concerning Mauritania, Ethiopie and Bénin, non published, have been communicated by Dr. Stanley Yoder, Senior qualitative research specialist of Macro International.

Data from DHS by Macro International can also be found in:

- CARR, Dara, Female Genital Cutting. Findings from the Demographic and Health Surveys Program, Macro International Inc., Calverton, Maryland (Usa), 1997 (including finding from DHS in central African republic, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Erithrea, Mali, Northern Soudan and Yémen)
- YODER, P. Stanley, CAMARA, Papa Ousmane et SOUMAORO, Baba, Female Genital Cutting and Coming of Age in Guinea, Macro International Inc., Calverton, Maryland (Usa), 1999
- Abandoning Female Genital Cutting, Population Reference Bureau, Washington D.C. (Usa), 2001