Abortion statistics and other data--Johnston`s Archive
Historical abortion statistics, South Africa
compiled by Wm. Robert Johnston
last updated 6 June 2026
Definition of table data (see notes after table for additional information):
- Live births.
- Abortions, reported includes legal reported induced abortions.
- Abortions (AWR) are combined reported and estimated abortion occurrences from the Abortion Worldwide Report and working papers.
- Abortions, residents, in country only includes reported
abortions obtained within the country by residents only.
- Abortions, residents, obtained abroad includes reported
abortions by country residents obtained in other countries.
- Abortions, residents, total includes reported abortions
by residents, obtained both within the country and abroad.
- Fetal deaths generally includes fetal deaths or stillbirths
of at least 20 weeks` gestation.
- Miscarriages generally includes spontaneous fetal losses/
abortions, fetal deaths, or stillbirths, regardless of gestation period.
- Abortion ratio is abortions per 1000 live births.
- Abortion % is abortions as percentage of pregnancies
(excluding fetal deaths/miscarriages).
- Abortion rate, residents is abortions by residency per 1000 women of childbearing age.
- Abortion rate, occurrences (AWR) is abortion occurrences from Abortion Worldwide Report figures per 1000 women ages 15-39.
South Africa regional level data also available here.
| year | live births | abortions, reported | abortions (AWR) | abortions, residents, in country only | abortions, residents, obtained abroad | abortions, residents, total | miscarriages and abortions | fetal deaths | abortion ratio | abortion % | abortion
rate,
residents | abortion
rate, occurrences (AWR) |
|---|
residents, in/out of country | all in country | residents, in/out of country | all in country |
| 1971 | | | | | 21 | 21 | | | | | | | | |
| 1972 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1973 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1974 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1975 | | 570 | 570 | (570) | | 570 | | | | | | | | |
| 1976 | | 625 | 625 | (625) | | 625 | | | | | | | | |
| 1977 | | 539 | 539 | (539) | | 539 | | | | | | | | |
| 1978 | | 541 | 541 | (541) | | 541 | | | | | | | | |
| 1979 | | 423 | 423 | (423) | | 423 | | | | | | | | |
| 1980 | | 347 | 347 | (347) | | 347 | 29,979 | | | | | | | |
| 1981 | | 381 | 381 | (381) | 512 | 893 | 33,194 | | | | | | | |
| 1982 | | 464 | 464 | (464) | 563 | 1,027 | 35,759 | | | | | | | |
| 1983 | | 474 | 474 | (474) | 560 | 1,034 | 32,839 | | | | | | | |
| 1984 | | 566 | 566 | (566) | 755 | 1,321 | 29,596 | | | | | | | |
| 1985 | | 712 | 712 | (712) | 609 | 1,321 | 32,500 | | | | | | | 0.10 |
| 1986 | | 780 | 780 | (780) | 517 | 1,297 | 36,062 | | | | | | | 0.11 |
| 1987 | | 811 | 811 | (811) | 400 | 1,211 | 35,882 | | | | | | | 0.11 |
| 1988 | | 1,053 | 1,053 | (1,053) | 400 | 1,453 | | | | | | | | 0.14 |
| 1989 | | 762 | 762 | (762) | 439 | 1,201 | | | | | | | | 0.10 |
| 1990 | | 756 | 756 | (756) | 400 | 1,156 | | | | | | | | 0.09 |
| 1991 | 892,850 | 1,024 | 1,024 | (1,024) | 600 | 1,624 | | | 1.8 | 1.1 | 0.18 | 0.11 | | 0.13 |
| 1992 | 987,312 | 1,449 | 1,449 | (1,449) | 500 | 1,949 | | | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.20 | 0.15 | | 0.17 |
| 1993 | 968,170 | 1,582 | 1,582 | (1,582) | 377 | 1,959 | | | 2.0 | 1.6 | 0.20 | 0.16 | | 0.19 |
| 1994 | 975,993 | (1,600) | (1,600) | (1,600) | 285 | 1,885 | | | 1.9 | 1.6 | 0.19 | 0.16 | | 0.19 |
| 1995 | 948,007 | (1,600) | (1,600) | (1,600) | 120 | 1,720 | | | 1.8 | 1.7 | 0.18 | 0.17 | | 0.18 |
| 1996 | 985,212 | (1,600) | (1,600) | (1,600) | 50 | 1,650 | | | 1.7 | 1.6 | 0.17 | 0.16 | | 0.18 |
| 1997 | 969,220 | 26,519 | 26,519 | 26,519 | 100 | 26,619 | | | 27.5 | 27.4 | 2.67 | 2.66 | | 2.94 |
| 1998 | 953,359 | 40,353 | 40,353 | 40,353 | | 40,353 | | | 42.3 | 42.3 | 4.06 | 4.06 | | 4.39 |
| 1999 | 969,537 | 46,309 | 46,309 | 46,309 | | 46,309 | | | 47.8 | 47.8 | 4.56 | 4.56 | | 4.95 |
| 2000 | 982,055 | 55,115 | 55,115 | 55,115 | | 55,115 | | | 56.1 | 56.1 | 5.31 | 5.31 | | 5.78 |
| 2001 | 964,805 | 57,539 | 57,539 | 57,539 | | 57,539 | | | 59.6 | 59.6 | 5.63 | 5.63 | | 5.91 |
| 2002 | 975,495 | 59,653 | 59,653 | 59,653 | | 59,653 | | | 61.2 | 61.2 | 5.76 | 5.76 | | 5.99 |
| 2003 | 970,273 | 72,781 | 72,781 | 72,781 | 10 | 72,791 | | 14,625 | 75.0 | 75.0 | 6.98 | 6.98 | 6.0 | 7.15 |
| 2004 | 1,030,202 | 87,155 | 87,155 | 87,155 | 5 | 87,160 | | 15,742 | 84.6 | 84.6 | 7.80 | 7.80 | | 8.38 |
| 2005 | 1,071,906 | (94,780) | (96,600) | (94,780) | | 94,780 | | 13,719 | 88.4 | 88.4 | 8.12 | 8.12 | | 9.10 |
| 2006 | 1,103,581 | (95,090) | (95,000) | (95,090) | | 95,090 | | 14,375 | 86.2 | 86.2 | 7.93 | 7.93 | | 8.78 |
| 2007 | 1,089,522 | (84,250) | (79,900) | (84,250) | | 84,250 | | 14,222 | 77.3 | 77.3 | 7.18 | 7.18 | | 7.25 |
| 2008 | 1,113,041 | (93,610) | (93,400) | (93,610) | | 93,610 | | 14,626 | 84.1 | 84.1 | 7.76 | 7.76 | | 8.32 |
| 2009 | 1,062,077 | (88,050) | (88,500) | (88,050) | | 88,050 | | 14,154 | 82.9 | 82.9 | 7.66 | 7.66 | | 7.75 |
| 2010 | 1,035,509 | (73,070) | (73,000) | (73,070) | | 73,070 | | 14,986 | 70.6 | 70.6 | 6.59 | 6.59 | | 6.30 |
| 2011 | 1,044,539 | 77,771 | (76,100) | (77,771) | | 77,771 | | 13,852 | 74.5 | 74.5 | 6.93 | 6.93 | | 6.51 |
| 2012 | 1,045,083 | 85,302 | (81,500) | (82,910) | | 82,910 | | | 79.3 | 81.6 | 7.35 | 7.55 | | 6.93 |
| 2013 | 1,032,259 | 90,160 | (88,200) | (90,160) | | 90,160 | | | 87.3 | 87.3 | 8.03 | 8.03 | | 7.46 |
| 2014 | 1,036,533 | 175,788 | 175,788 | 175,788 | | 175,788 | | 15,157 | 169.6 | 169.6 | 14.50 | 14.50 | | 14.82 |
| 2015 | 1,020,090 | 170,682 | 170,682 | 170,682 | | 170,682 | | 14,341 | 167.3 | 167.3 | 14.33 | 14.33 | | 14.34 |
| 2016 | 967,230 | 191,760 | 191,760 | 191,760 | | 191,760 | | 11,961 | 198.3 | 198.3 | 16.55 | 16.55 | | 16.07 |
| 2017 | 944,727 | 104,660 | (104,800) | 104,660 | | 104,660 | | | 110.8 | 110.8 | 9.97 | 9.97 | | 8.77 |
| 2018 | 981,870 | 116,419 | (119,600) | 116,419 | 3 | 116,422 | | | 118.6 | 118.6 | 10.60 | 10.60 | | 10.00 |
| 2019 | 1,035,261 | 122,985 | (132,100) | 122,985 | | 122,985 | | 19,623 | 118.8 | 118.8 | 10.62 | 10.62 | | 11.03 |
| 2020 | 1,015,904 | 108,301 | (111,600) | 108,301 | | 108,301 | | 19,960 | 106.6 | 106.6 | 9.63 | 9.63 | | 9.31 |
| 2021 | 1,011,245 | 114,496 | 114,496 | 114,496 | | 114,496 | | | 113.2 | 113.2 | 10.17 | 10.17 | | 9.54 |
| 2022 | 945,663 | 135,523 | 135,523 | 135,523 | | 135,523 | | | 143.3 | 143.3 | 12.53 | 12.53 | | 11.27 |
| 2023 | 863,447 | 138,139 | 138,139 | 138,139 | | 138,139 | | | 160.0 | 160.0 | 13.79 | 13.79 | | 11.47 |
| 2024 | | 118,509 | 118,509 | 118,509 | | 118,509 | | | | | | | | 9.83 |
| 2025 | | | (119,000) | | | | | | | | | | | |
| year | live births | abortions, reported | abortions (AWR) | abortions, residents, in country only | abortions, residents, obtained abroad | abortions, residents, total | miscarriages and abortions | fetal deaths | abortion ratio | abortion % | abortion
rate,
residents | abortion
rate, occurrences (AWR) |
|---|
residents, in/out of country | all in country | residents, in/out of country | all in country |
Notes:
- Parenthetical figures are estimates, some of which are
derived from reported data.
- Abortion ratios, percentages, and rates may be based on a mix of
data from different sources and thus may not represent a consistent time series.
Sources (incomplete):
- Department of Health, 27 July 2005, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 2004," Department of Health, on line [http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/11/75/74/04117574.pdf].
- Department of Health, Aug. 2004, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 2003," Department of Health, on line [http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/11/66/26/04116626.pdf].
- Engelbrecht, Michelle Catherine, Nov. 2005, "Termination of pregnancy policy and services: an appraisal of the implementation and operation of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act (92 of 1996)," Ph.D. thesis, University of the Free State, on line at University of the Free State [http://etd.uovs.ac.za/ETD-db//theses/available/etd-08212006-132756/unrestricted/EngelbrechtMC.pdf Health Systems Trust, 2009, "Health Statistics: TOPs (Terminations of Pregnancy)," Health Systems Trust, on line [http://www.hst.org.za/healthstats/47/data].
- Henshaw, Stanley K., T. A. Haas, K. Berentsen, and E. Carbone, eds., 2001, Readings on Induced Abortion, Volume 2: A World Review 2000, Alan Guttmacher Institute (New York, NY), on line at Access My Library [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/browse_JJ_R048].
- Johnston, Wm. Robert, 26 Nov. 2011, "South Africa: abortions and live births by province, 1997-2010," Johnston's Archive, on line [http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/policy/abortion/southafrica/ab-sap.html].
- Johnston, Wm. Robert, Dec. 2009, "South Africa abortions and live births by province," working paper, see "South Africa: abortions and live births by province, 1997-2007," Johnston's Archive, on line [http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/policy/abortion/southafrica/ab-sap.html].
- Office for National Statistics, 1992, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 1991," National Statistics, on line [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/AB18_1991/ab18_1991.pdf].
- Office for National Statistics, 1994, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 1993," National Statistics, on line [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/AB20_1993/ab20_1993.pdf].
- Office for National Statistics, 1995, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 1994," National Statistics, on line [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/AB21_1994/ab21_1994.pdf].
- Office for National Statistics, 1996, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 1995," National Statistics, on line [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/AB22_1995/ab22_1995.pdf].
- Office for National Statistics, 1997, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 1996," National Statistics, on line [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/AB23_1996/ab23_1996.pdf].
- ProLife South Africa, 2006, "Abortion holocaust in the Republic of South Africa," ProLife South Africa, on line [http://www.prolife.co.za/docs/doc/184.doc].
- Sedgh, Gilda, Stanley K. Henshaw, Susheela Singh, Akinrinola Bankole, and Taylor Haas, Sept. 2007, "Legal abortion worldwide: incidence and recent trends," International Family Planning Perspectives, 33:106-116, on line at AGI [http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/3310607.html].
- Statistics South Africa, 10 Oct. 2006, "Recorded live births 2005," Statistics South Africa, on line [http://www.statssa.gov.za/Publications/P0305/P03052005.pdf].
- Statistics South Africa, 23 Nov. 2009, "Recorded live births, 2008," Statistics South Africa, on line [http://www.statssa.gov.za/Publications/P0305/P03052008.pdf].
- U.K. Parliament, 18 April 1972, "Abortion," HANSARD 1803-2005, on line [http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1972/apr/18/abortion#S5CV0835P0-05802].
- U.K. Parliament, 30 Nov. 1987, "Abortion," HANSARD 1803-2005, on line [http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1987/nov/30/abortion].
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2002, "Table 1. Live births by sex and urban/rural residence: 1980-1999," in United Nations Demographic Yearbook 1999 Natality Supplement, United Nations (New York, NY), on line at United Nations Statistics Division [http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/DYBNat/NatStatTab01.pdf].
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2010, "Table 13. Legally induced abortions: 1999-2008," in United Nations Demographic Yearbook 2008, United Nations (New York, NY), on line at United Nations Statistics Division [http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2008/Table13.pdf].
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2012, "Population and Vital Statistics Report, Statistical Papers, Series A, Vol. LXIV," United Nations Statistics Division, on line [http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/vitstats/Sets/Series_A_2012.pdf].
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 23 July 2008, "Table 9. Live births and crude birth rates, by urban/rural residence: 2002-2006," in United Nations Demographic Yearbook 2006, United Nations (New York, NY), on line at United Nations Statistics Division [http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2006/Table09.pdf].
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 9 Oct. 2009, "Table 4. Vital statistics summary and expectation of life at birth: 2003-2007," in United Nations Demographic Yearbook 2007, United Nations (New York, NY), on line at United Nations Statistics Division [http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2007/Table04.pdf].
- SAPA, 21 Aug. 2012, "77 000 abortions in SA in 2011--report," IOL News, on line [http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/77-000-abortions-in-sa-in-2011-report-1.1366672].
- Davis, Rebecca, 30 Sept. 2013, "Abortion in South Africa: a conspiracy of silence," Daily Maverick, on line [http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2013-09-30-abortion-in-south-africa-a-conspiracy-of-silence/].
- Health Systems Trust, 2013, "ToPs (Terminations of pregnancy)," Health Systems Trust, on line [http://indicators.hst.org.za/healthstats/47/data].
- Statistics South Africa, 18 Nov. 2013, "Recorded live births 2012," Health Systems Trust, on line [http://www.hst.org.za/sites/default/files/Recorded%20live%20births%202012.pdf].
- United Nations Statistics Division, 1 July 2014, "3. Live births, deaths, and infant deaths, latest available year (1999-2013)," United Nations Statistics Division, on line [a href=https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/vitstats/serATab3.pdf>https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/vitstats/serATab3.pdf].
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2013, "Table 9. Live births and crude birth rates, by urban/rural residence: 2008-2012," in United Nations Demographic Yearbook 2012, United Nations (New York, NY), on line at United Nations Statistics Division [http://unstats.un.org/UNSD/Demographic/products/dyb/dyb2012/Table09.pdf].
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2008, "Table 12. Late foetal deaths and late foetal death ratios, by urban/rural residence: 2003-2007," in United Nations Demographic Yearbook 2007, United Nations (New York, NY), on line at United Nations Statistics Division [http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2007/Table12.pdf].
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2011, "Table 12. Late foetal deaths and late foetal death ratios, by urban/rural residence: 2006-2010," in United Nations Demographic Yearbook 2009-2010, United Nations (New York, NY), on line at United Nations Statistics Division [http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2009-2010/Table12.pdf].
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2014, "Table 12. Late foetal deaths and late foetal death ratios, by urban/rural residence: 2009-2013," in United Nations Demographic Yearbook 2013, United Nations (New York, NY), on line at United Nations Statistics Division [http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2013/Table12.pdf].
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2014, "Table 9. Live births and crude birth rates, by urban/rural residence: 2009-2013," in United Nations Demographic Yearbook 2013, United Nations (New York, NY), on line at United Nations Statistics Division [http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2013/Table09.pdf].
- Health Systems Trust, 2015, "ToPs (Terminations of pregnancy)," Health Systems Trust, on line [http://indicators.hst.org.za/healthstats/47/data].
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 12 Aug. 2015, "3. Live births, deaths, and infant deaths, latest available year (2000-2014)," United Nations Statistics Division, on line [http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/vitstats/serATab3.pdf].
- Ndlovu, Noluthando, Andrew Gray, Bonga Mkhabela, Nqobile Myende, Candy Day, 2022, "Health and related indicators 2022," South African Health Review, 25, on line https://sahr.hst.org.za/article/82026-health-and-related-indicators-2022
© 2000-2025, 2026 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 6 June 2026.
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