Abortion statistics and other data--Johnston`s Archive
Historical abortion statistics, ROK South Korea
compiled by Wm. Robert Johnston
last updated 3 July 2022
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 ages 15-44.
- Abortion rate, occurrences (AWR) is abortion occurrences from Abortion Worldwide Report figures per 1000 women ages 15-39.
| year | live births | abortions, reported | abortions (AWR) | abortions, residents, in country only | abortions, residents, obtained abroad | abortions, residents, total | fetal deaths | abortion ratio | abortion % | abortion
rate,
residents | abortion
rate, occurences (AWR) |
|---|
residents, in/out of country | all in country | residents, in/out of country | all in country |
| 1961 | (990,000) | (104,000) | (104,000) | (104,000) | | (104,000) | | 105 | 105 | 9.51 | 9.51 | 19.5 | |
| 1962 | (969,000) | (127,000) | (127,000) | (127,000) | | (127,000) | | 131 | 131 | 11.59 | 11.59 | 23.3 | |
| 1963 | (944,000) | (152,000) | (152,000) | (152,000) | | (152,000) | | 161 | 161 | 13.87 | 13.87 | 27.2 | |
| 1964 | (918,000) | (191,000) | (191,000) | (191,000) | | (191,000) | | 208 | 208 | 17.22 | 17.22 | 33.3 | |
| 1965 | (899,000) | (223,000) | (223,000) | (223,000) | | (223,000) | | 248 | 248 | 19.88 | 19.88 | 37.9 | |
| 1966 | (860,000) | (252,000) | (252,000) | (252,000) | | (252,000) | | 293 | 293 | 22.66 | 22.66 | 41.9 | |
| 1967 | (886,000) | (264,000) | (264,000) | (264,000) | | (264,000) | | 298 | 298 | 22.96 | 22.96 | 42.9 | |
| 1968 | (864,000) | (293,000) | (293,000) | (293,000) | | (293,000) | | 339 | 339 | 25.32 | 25.32 | 46.4 | |
| 1969 | (880,000) | (315,000) | (315,000) | (315,000) | | (315,000) | | 358 | 358 | 26.36 | 26.36 | 48.8 | |
| 1970 | 1,006,645 | (331,000) | (331,000) | (331,000) | | (331,000) | | 329 | 329 | 24.74 | 24.74 | 50.1 | |
| 1971 | 1,024,773 | | (351,000) | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1972 | 952,780 | | (370,000) | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1973 | 965,521 | (390,000) | (390,000) | (390,000) | | (390,000) | | 404 | 404 | 28.77 | 28.77 | | |
| 1974 | 922,823 | | (487,000) | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1975 | 874,869 | (584,000) | (584,000) | (584,000) | | (584,000) | | 668 | 668 | 40.03 | 40.03 | 63.9 | |
| 1976 | 796,331 | (533,000) | (533,000) | (533,000) | | (533,000) | | 669 | 669 | 40.10 | 40.10 | | |
| 1977 | 825,339 | (558,000) | (558,000) | (558,000) | | (558,000) | | 676 | 676 | 40.34 | 40.34 | | |
| 1978 | 750,728 | (631,000) | (631,000) | (631,000) | | (631,000) | | 841 | 841 | 45.67 | 45.67 | | |
| 1979 | 862,669 | | (627,000) | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1980 | 862,835 | | (624,000) | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1981 | 867,409 | (620,000) | (620,000) | (620,000) | | (620,000) | | 715 | 715 | 41.68 | 41.68 | 64.0 | |
| 1982 | 848,312 | | (581,000) | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1983 | 769,155 | | (542,000) | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1984 | 674,793 | (503,000) | (503,000) | (503,000) | | (503,000) | | 745 | 745 | 42.71 | 42.71 | 50.2 | |
| 1985 | 655,489 | | (480,000) | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1986 | 636,019 | | (458,000) | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1987 | 623,831 | (435,000) | (435,000) | (435,000) | | (435,000) | | 697 | 697 | 41.08 | 41.08 | | |
| 1988 | 633,092 | | (427,000) | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1989 | 639,431 | | (418,000) | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1990 | 649,738 | (410,000) | (410,000) | (410,000) | | (410,000) | | 631 | 631 | 38.69 | 38.69 | 36.5 | (45.6) |
| 1991 | 709,275 | | (320,000) | | | | | | | | | | (34.8) |
| 1992 | 730,678 | (230,000) | (230,000) | (230,000) | | (230,000) | | 315 | 315 | 23.94 | 23.94 | | (24.5) |
| 1993 | 715,826 | (396,000) | (396,000) | (396,000) | | (396,000) | | 553 | 553 | 35.62 | 35.62 | 33.7 | (93.3) |
| 1994 | 721,185 | | (344,000) | | | | | | | | | | (35.9) |
| 1995 | 715,185 | | (291,000) | | | | | | | | | | (67.8) |
| 1996 | 691,226 | (239,000) | (239,000) | (239,000) | | (239,000) | | 346 | 346 | 25.69 | 25.69 | 19.6 | (24.6) |
| 1997 | 668,344 | (280,000) | (280,000) | (280,000) | | (280,000) | | 419 | 419 | 29.53 | 29.53 | 22.7 | (64.5) |
| 1998 | 634,790 | | (246,000) | | | | | | | | | | (25.0) |
| 1999 | 614,233 | (212,300) | (212,300) | (212,300) | | (212,300) | | 346 | 346 | 25.69 | 25.69 | 17.3 | (48.1) |
| 2000 | 634,501 | | (234,000) | | | | | | | | | | (23.6) |
| 2001 | 554,895 | | (256,000) | | | | | | | | | | (57.4) |
| 2002 | 492,111 | | (277,000) | | | | | | | | | | (27.8) |
| 2003 | 490,543 | | (299,000) | | | | | | | | | | (66.7) |
| 2004 | 472,761 | | (321,000) | | | | | | | | | | (32.0) |
| 2005 | 435,031 | (342,433) | (342,433) | (342,433) | | (342,433) | | 787 | 787 | 44.04 | 44.04 | 29.8 | (75.7) |
| 2006 | 448,153 | | (309,000) | | | | | | | | | | (30.6) |
| 2007 | 493,189 | | (275,000) | | | | 1,173 | | | | | | (60.2) |
| 2008 | 465,892 | (241,411) | (241,411) | (241,411) | 1 | (241,412) | 1,055 | 518 | 518 | 34.13 | 34.13 | 21.9 | (23.9) |
| 2009 | 444,849 | (187,958) | (187,958) | (187,958) | | (187,958) | 1,025 | 423 | 423 | 29.70 | 29.70 | 17.2 | (40.6) |
| 2010 | 470,171 | (168,738) | (168,738) | (168,738) | | (168,738) | 950 | 359 | 359 | 26.41 | 26.41 | 15.8 | (16.6) |
| 2011 | 471,265 | | (152,000) | | 1 | | 924 | | | | | | (32.8) |
| 2012 | 484,550 | | (136,000) | | 2 | | 963 | | | | | | (13.3) |
| 2013 | 436,455 | | (119,000) | | | | 931 | | | | | | (25.7) |
| 2014 | 435,435 | | (103,000) | | | | 897 | | | | | | (10.2) |
| 2015 | 438,420 | | (86,000) | | | | 836 | | | | | | (18.5) |
| 2016 | 406,243 | (69,909) | (69,909) | (69,909) | | (69,909) | 709 | 172 | 172 | 14.68 | 14.68 | | (7.0) |
| 2017 | 357,771 | (49,764) | (49,764) | (49,764) | | (49,764) | 606 | 139 | 139 | 12.21 | 12.21 | | (10.7) |
| 2018 | 326,822 | | (40,000) | | | | 559 | | | | | | |
| 2019 | 302,676 | | (40,000) | | | | 516 | | | | | | |
| 2020 | 272,337 | | (40,000) | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2021 | 260,500 | | (40,000) | | | | | | | | | | |
| year | live births | abortions, reported | abortions (AWR) | abortions, residents, in country only | abortions, residents, obtained abroad | abortions, residents, total | fetal deaths | abortion ratio | abortion % | abortion
rate,
residents | abortion
rate, occurences (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:
- Ahn, H. S., H. J. Seol, J. E. Lim, S. H. Hong, S. Y. Lee, M. I. Park, S. D. Kim, and H. J. Kim, 2012, "Estimates of induced abortion in South Korea: Health facilities survey," Journal of Obstet. Gynaecol. Research, 38(1):324-328.
- Choi, Bongho, Seungwook Lee, and Youngsik Chang, 1999, "Current status of health related indicators in Korea," Korea National Statistical Office, on line [http://www.nso.go.kr/attach/journal/4-1-8.PDF].
- Donaldson, P. J., D. J. Nichols, and Ehn Hyun Choe, 1982, "Abortion and contraception in the Korean fertility transition," Population Studies, 36(2):227-235, on line [http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNAAL787.pdf].
- Henshaw, Stanley K., Susheela Singh, and Taylor Haas, 1999, "Recent trends in abortion rates worldwide," International Family Planning Perspectives, 25(1):, on line at AGI [http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/2504499.html].
- Henshaw, Stanley K., Susheela Singh, and Taylor Haas, 1999, "The incidence of abortion worldwide," International Family Planning Perspectives, 25:S30-S38, on line at AGI [http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/25s3099.html].
- Hong, Sung-bong, 1988, "South Korea," in International Handbook on Abortion, ed. by Paul Sachdev, Greenwood Press (New York, NY), pp. 302-316.
- Kim, Rahn, 23 Sept. 2011, "Number of abortions decreases since 2008," Korea Times, on line [http://lfcltdv.ktimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2013/03/117_95367.html].
- Korean Statistical Information Service, 2013, "KOSIS Statistical Database," KOSIS, on line [http://kosis.kr/eng/search/search_001000.jsp].
- Korean Women's Development Institute, 2009, "Reviewing issues on unwed mothers' welfare in Korea: Intercountry adoption, related statistics, and welfare policies in developed countries," on line, TRACK [http://justicespeaking.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/200905_reviewing-issues-on-unwed-mothers-welfare-in-korea.pdf].
- Lim, Jong-Kwon, Sang-Young Lee, and Hwa-Oak Bae, 1989, "Prevalence of induced abortion in Korea," on line [http://repository.kihasa.re.kr:8080/handle/201002/3586].
- 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].
- Tietze, Christopher, ed., 1979, Induced Abortion: A World Review 1979, 3rd ed., Population Council (New York, NY).
- Yonhap, 26 Feb. 2013, "Births rise for 3 straight years in 2012," Yonhap News Agency, on line [http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2013/02/26/0503000000AEN20130226004400320.HTML].
- 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, 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, 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].
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2015, "Table 12. Late foetal deaths and late foetal death ratios, by urban/rural residence: 2010-2014," in United Nations Demographic Yearbook 2014, United Nations (New York, NY), on line at United Nations Statistics Division [http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2014/Table12.pdf].
© 2000-2021, 2022 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 3 July 2022.
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