20 June 2008

England and Wales: Abortion statistics 2007

The most recent abortion statistics show an overall rise of 2.5%, and an increase in the abortion rate for under-18s.

Key Facts

In 2007, for women resident in England and Wales:

  • The total number of abortions was 198,500, compared with 193,700 in 2006, a rise of 2.5%
  • The age-standardised abortion rate was 18.6 per 1,000 resident women aged 15-44, compared with 18.3 in 2006
  • The abortion rate was highest at 36 per 1,000, for women age 19 the under-16 abortion rate was 4.4 and the under- 18 rate was 19.8 per 1,000 women, both higher than in 2006
  • 89% of abortions were funded by the NHS; of these, just over half (57%) took place in the independent sector under NHS contract
  • 90% of abortions were carried out at under 13 weeks’ gestation; 70% were at under 10 weeks
  • Medical abortions accounted for 35% of the total compared with 30% in 2006
  • 1,900 abortions (1%) were under ground E, risk that the child would be born handicapped

    Non-residents:

  • In 2007, there were 7,100 abortions for non-residents carried out in hospitals and clinics in England and Wales (7,400 in 2006)

    Most of the media coverage of these national statistics focused on the rise in abortions for under-18s. The Times (London) reported that ‘half of pregnancies among girls under 18 are now ending in abortions although the number of pregnancies is falling’, and that Ministers are expected to respond to this ‘by forcing schools to improve sex education, with children as young as 5 taught about relationships and older pupils receiving specific advice about sex and contraception’.

    Also in the Times, a commentary by Caitlin Moran argued that ‘While many may bemoan teenage girls having serial abortions, a grimmer story by far, surely, would be that of teenage girls having a series of children they were unready and unable to care for’.

    Ann Furedi, Chief Executive of BPAS, said of the 2007 statistics:

    ‘These statistics confirm the underlying trends of the past few years. There is much to welcome in these statistics, such as the rise in the proportion of abortions happening at under 10 weeks. This is partly the result of concerted efforts by BPAS working with the NHS to reach as many women as possible, as early as possible. However much more needs to be done to improve earlier access to abortion. Family planning experts all agree that UK law must be modernised before that can happen. 

    ‘Teenagers, like every other age group, see parenthood as a significant social responsibility and not something to drift into after a slipped condom or a missed pill. The small number of girls and their parents who come to talk to us about pregnancy options are always very distressed about their situation. But the problem is their unintended pregnancy, not the abortion. The solution to the complex issue of teenage pregnancy can never be to force young girls to become unwilling mothers. 

    ‘Much more needs to be done to equip young people to deal with the complexities of their personal relationships and to empower them to ask for high quality, user-friendly forms of contraception without embarrassment. In typical use, the failure rate of condoms, a method which young people often rely on, can be as high as 15%.’

    Abortion statistics, England and Wales: 2007. Department of Health, 19 June 2008

    BPAS response to new abortion figures in England and Wales. BPAS press release, 19 June 2008

    Rise in teen abortions prompts call for reform of sex education. The Times (London), 20 June 2008