Abortions in England and Wales at their highest rate

Abortion statistics for 2023, released by the Department of Health and Social Care today, show abortions in England and Wales are the highest since the Abortion Act was passed in 1967.

According to the latest statistics, there there were 277,970 abortions for residents of England and Wales in 2023. This is the highest number since the Abortion Act was introduced and represents an increase of 11% since 2022. The continues an upward trend in the number of abortions since the Act was passed.

The abortion rate increased for every age group from 2022 to 2023, including those aged under 18. The rate of abortions for under-18s increased from 6.4 per 1,000 women in 2021 to 7.8 in 2023. The abortion rate was highest among women aged 20 to 24, at 39.4 per 1,000 women, a steady increase over recent years.

While most of the abortions were performed between 2 and 9 weeks gestation (89% or 248,250 abortions), almost 30,000 abortions were performed after 9 weeks. The percentage of abortions carried out at 20 weeks gestation or more stayed more or less stable at between 1% and 2%.

Most abortions (87%) were medical abortions, which involve medication prescribed by a doctor. However, the number of surgical abortions, where the pregnancy is terminated with an operation, has increased in both 2022 and 2023. Taking medication at home, which was introduced in March 2020 during the pandemic, was the most common method of abortion (72% or 200,745 abortions). This is an increase of nearly 50,000 since 2022.

Most abortions continue to be provided by the independent sector, funded by the NHS (81%). The share of abortions provided in an NHS hospital fell from 19% in 2022 to 17% in 2023.

There may be many reasons for the increase in abortions, however, many experts are pointing to the cost of living and lack of access to contraception as significant factors.

Dr Alison Wright, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: “There is likely to be a range of factors behind the rise in abortion rates over recent years. Economic pressure and the rising cost of living are shaping women’s reproductive choices, with many choosing to delay or have smaller families. At the same time, overstretched GP and sexual health services are making it harder for many women – particularly in more deprived communities – to access contraception when they need it, increasing the risk of unplanned pregnancy.”

Katie Saxon, chief strategic communications officer at BPAS, one of the country’s largest abortion providers, commented: ““These figures reflect the first full year of abortion care during the cost‑of‑living crisis, which is essential context for understanding the rise in abortion rates. No woman should have to end a pregnancy she would otherwise have continued purely for financial reasons”