The biggest cause of death in 2020 was abortion, with over 42 million occurring last year.

The figure comes from data put together by Worldometer, a site that looks at health statistics, global populations and other relevant data.

The website also used statistics available from the World Health Organisation (WHO) in reaching the figure.

It calculated that in 2020, 42.6 million abortions took place across the globe.

It means abortion was by far the most common cause of death in 2020. In comparison, communicable diseases killed more than 13 million people in 2020, cancer killed 8.2 million and 5.1 million died because of smoking.

Abortion statistics reached new highs in England, Wales and Scotland. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland, once the only part of the UK with a life-affirming law in place, had extreme abortion laws imposed by Westminster last year.

In Great Britain, abortion is legal up to 24 weeks under five Grounds, the most common of which is Ground C (the mental health Ground). Abortion is legal up to birth in cases of ‘serious handicap’. This has been used to abort babies with Down’s syndrome and treatable disabilities such as Club foot.

The Bible teaches that every human being is made in God’s image. Given the dignity of a human being, which is proved by the simple fact that God the Son was conceived in the womb of a virgin, Mary, life is precious from conception onwards. Therefore, each abortion is a tragedy.

Our first response surely needs to be to mourn at the way the abortion culture has spread rapidly across the world. Secondly, we need to ask God for His forgiveness for our lack of courage in speaking out. Thirdly, we need to win hearts and minds on this issue. Fourthly, we need to pray for MPs, MLAs, MSPs and MSs who are genuinely opposed to widespread abortion.