People's Republic of China: abortion percentages by region

by Wm. Robert Johnston
last updated 25 January 2015

The PRC government releases limited data on abortions and live births by region, and that data which is released may be of limited accuracy. The following data is mostly derived directly or indirectly from official Chinese data. Live birth data is derived from PRC statistics agency annual figures for regional population and birth rates. Abortion data for 2003-2009 and 2011 is that reported by the PRC Ministry of Health. Abortion data for 1965 and 1988-1996 is derived from abortion rates reported by Thomas Scharping (2003).

The live birth figures here are of limited accuracy, as it is believed that the figures released by the PRC are often incomplete and/or inaccurate. PRC abortion-related figures at the regional level are known to be incomplete based on comparison to nationwide totals reported by the PRC's National Population and Family Planning Commission, which in turn may not have accurate figures.

Abortion percentages by P.R. China region (reported or estimated)

region 1956 1965 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1996 2003 2004 2005 2006 2008 2009 2010 2011 region

Anhui 37.5 10.7 22.5 31.0 35.5 32.4 20.0 19.3 17.6 18.6 18.0 26.0 15.9 20.2 Anhui

Beijing 1.0 25.9 25.9 25.9 35.5 23.1 15.3 11.5 79.3 77.1 61.5 59.6 49.7 38.4 55.4 Beijing

Chongqing 42.3 66.1 47.2 45.7 49.7 43.5 42.9 Chongqing

Fujian 6.5 33.8 45.1 41.2 34.2 22.5 24.5 27.8 26.4 27.7 33.6 25.9 28.2 Fujian

Gansu 7.5 9.0 10.6 8.2 9.3 10.6 23.1 12.8 16.6 4.8 27.0 19.4 15.3 11.5 16.7 17.7 16.5 18.7 17.3 15.9 10.5 13.7 Gansu

Guangdong 7.4 24.1 30.5 9.1 37.5 40.8 40.8 39.4 35.5 47.8 47.0 49.2 47.8 56.0 46.7 49.6 Guangdong

Guangxi 11.5 40.5 31.0 44.4 39.4 31.5 33.9 34.4 33.9 34.4 37.6 26.0 30.9 Guangxi

Guizhou 2.0 5.7 27.5 29.1 29.1 28.1 26.5 9.0 9.8 8.4 7.8 10.3 6.7 7.4 Guizhou

Hainan 9.1 32.0 33.3 29.1 28.6 23.7 26.1 34.1 33.3 31.7 36.5 30.0 34.4 Hainan

Hebei 7.4 21.3 23.1 23.7 24.2 21.9 23.7 23.7 32.9 37.1 10.7 36.3 40.8 28.6 20.6 9.1 15.8 13.4 13.0 13.8 20.0 13.6 12.2 Hebei

Heilongjiang 43.5 10.7 18.7 20.0 17.4 9.9 5.7 31.8 31.1 31.7 31.5 36.9 28.7 28.6 Heilongjiang

Henan 6.5 32.0 43.5 45.4 12.3 9.9 18.9 18.6 18.9 18.9 20.2 15.7 16.4 Henan

Hubei 42.2 13.8 29.6 32.4 31.5 27.0 19.4 34.3 32.4 33.4 33.5 36.2 29.5 28.6 Hubei

Hunan 2.9 10.7 34.2 40.5 44.4 26.5 19.4 22.3 18.8 20.5 21.0 25.7 19.7 19.5 Hunan

Inner Mongolia 8.3 20.0 18.7 21.3 13.8 10.7 22.4 23.8 23.1 23.4 25.2 17.8 20.0 Inner Mongolia

Jiangsu 13.0 47.1 17.4 32.4 36.3 32.0 21.3 20.0 49.5 49.7 51.2 51.6 54.9 40.8 42.1 Jiangsu

Jiangxi 24.8 9.1 24.8 29.1 33.8 23.1 25.4 18.4 17.2 19.1 21.0 25.7 17.5 17.5 Jiangxi

Jilin 4.8 11.5 16.7 18.0 28.6 16.7 9.1 37.7 40.3 36.8 40.8 45.4 34.7 36.3 Jilin

Liaoning 13.8 13.0 17.4 13.8 8.3 6.5 47.8 48.4 45.4 48.7 52.9 44.0 45.3 Liaoning

Ningxia 7.4 18.0 18.0 18.0 13.0 8.3 29.4 28.9 23.9 26.8 44.5 23.7 35.0 Ningxia

Qinghai 6.5 21.3 19.4 14.5 13.8 7.4 22.3 20.0 19.8 20.2 20.0 10.8 13.4 Qinghai

Shaanxi 7.4 29.1 32.0 28.1 28.1 20.0 17.9 17.9 19.1 18.7 22.9 18.4 20.2 Shaanxi

Shandong 16.0 38.7 45.4 32.9 12.3 5.7 30.7 27.7 28.1 27.8 32.5 24.2 23.4 Shandong

Shanghai 30.6 50.0 50.0 52.1 52.3 55.4 57.7 54.0 29.1 67.2 71.9 71.2 74.2 73.7 70.3 66.5 62.5 61.7 62.2 55.4 56.0 Shanghai

Shanxi 7.4 17.4 19.4 21.3 25.9 20.6 18.4 17.9 17.8 20.2 27.5 19.7 20.7 Shanxi

Sichuan 42.2 21.9 31.0 32.4 24.8 20.6 19.4 41.7 23.1 40.9 43.4 46.1 40.4 42.1 Sichuan

Tianjin 27.5 21.3 25.9 26.5 20.0 16.7 17.4 60.6 59.7 53.2 59.6 59.1 51.4 49.8 Tianjin

Tibet 9.9 9.0 6.2 10.1 5.6 9.0 1.6 3.6 Tibet

Xinjiang 8.3 24.8 17.4 18.7 13.8 7.4 26.3 24.1 23.1 24.4 26.6 14.0 14.8 Xinjiang

Yunnan 10.7 35.5 36.3 33.8 23.1 16.0 28.2 23.2 24.6 27.1 37.1 25.0 25.7 Yunnan

Zhejiang 29.6 32.4 34.2 30.1 35.9 35.9 38.7 45.1 51.2 15.3 36.7 35.1 29.6 24.2 21.3 58.0 57.5 57.0 60.6 63.7 53.3 55.4 Zhejiang

PRC 0.0 6.1 15.6 16.9 18.0 19.2 20.2 22.4 23.5 31.1 34.6 29.4 35.5 35.9 38.2 32.8 30.9 29.8 31.0 30.9 30.5 31.5 36.3 27.4 28.5 29.2 PRC

Abortion rates by P.R. China region (reported or estimated)

region 1956 1965 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1996 2003 2004 2005 2006 2008 2009 2010 2011 region

Anhui 600 120 290 450 550 480 250 239 214 229 219 352 189 254 Anhui

Beijing 11 350 350 350 550 300 180 130 3,831 3,371 1,600 1,476 989 623 1,240 Beijing

Chongqing 732 1,953 893 843 988 770 750 Chongqing

Fujian 70 510 820 700 520 290 324 385 359 384 505 349 394 Fujian

Gansu 81 99 118 90 102 119 301 147 199 50 370 240 180 130 200 215 198 230 210 189 118 159 Gansu

Guangdong 80 318 439 100 600 690 690 650 550 916 887 967 917 1,272 878 983 Guangdong

Guangxi 130 680 450 800 650 460 512 525 513 524 601 351 447 Guangxi

Guizhou 20 60 380 410 410 390 360 99 108 92 85 114 72 80 Guizhou

Hainan 100 470 500 410 400 310 353 517 500 463 575 428 523 Hainan

Hebei 80 270 300 310 320 280 310 310 490 590 120 570 690 400 260 100 187 154 150 161 249 158 138 Hebei

Heilongjiang 770 120 230 250 210 110 60 466 452 464 460 585 402 400 Heilongjiang

Henan 70 470 770 830 140 110 234 228 232 233 253 186 197 Henan

Hubei 730 160 420 480 460 370 240 523 478 501 505 568 419 400 Hubei

Hunan 30 120 520 680 800 360 240 286 232 258 266 345 245 242 Hunan

Inner Mongolia 90 250 230 270 160 120 289 313 301 306 336 216 250 Inner Mongolia

Jiangsu 150 890 210 480 570 470 270 250 980 988 1,050 1,067 1,218 688 726 Jiangsu

Jiangxi 330 100 330 410 510 300 340 226 208 236 266 346 212 212 Jiangxi

Jilin 50 130 200 220 400 200 100 605 676 583 688 833 531 571 Jilin

Liaoning 160 150 210 160 90 70 916 936 833 950 1,122 784 830 Liaoning

Ningxia 80 220 220 220 150 90 417 407 315 365 801 311 538 Ningxia

Qinghai 70 270 240 170 160 80 288 251 247 252 250 121 154 Qinghai

Shaanxi 80 410 470 390 390 250 218 218 236 229 297 226 253 Shaanxi

Shandong 190 630 830 490 140 60 443 383 390 385 482 320 305 Shandong

Shanghai 440 999 999 1,087 1,095 1,240 1,364 1,172 410 2,050 2,560 2,470 2,870 2,800 2,370 1,981 1,667 1,612 1,646 1,244 1,274 Shanghai

Shanxi 80 210 240 270 350 260 226 219 217 254 379 246 261 Shanxi

Sichuan 730 280 450 480 330 260 240 715 300 693 766 856 678 728 Sichuan

Tianjin 380 270 350 360 250 200 210 1,539 1,483 1,136 1,473 1,446 1,056 991 Tianjin

Tibet 110 99 66 112 60 99 17 37 Tibet

Xinjiang 90 330 210 230 160 80 356 318 301 323 362 162 174 Xinjiang

Yunnan 120 550 570 510 300 190 393 301 326 371 591 332 345 Yunnan

Zhejiang 420 480 520 430 560 560 630 820 1,050 180 580 540 420 320 270 1,383 1,352 1,326 1,535 1,757 1,142 1,243 Zhejiang

PRC 0 65 185 204 220 238 253 289 307 452 530 416 549 560 618 487 446 425 450 447 438 460 569 377 399 413 PRC

Abortion percentages and ranks for P.R. China regions: 1992, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2011

region type abortion percentage rank

1992 2003 2008 2009 2011 1992 2003 2008 2009 2011

Anhui province 35.5 19.3 26.0 15.9 20.2 7 24 21 24 20

Beijing municipality 23.1 79.3 49.7 38.4 55.4 20 1 7 9 3

Chongqing municipality 42.3 49.7 43.5 42.9 8 8 6 7

Fujian province 41.2 24.5 33.6 25.9 28.2 5 20 17 15 16

Gansu province 15.3 17.7 15.9 10.5 13.7 27 29 29 30 27

Guangdong province 40.8 47.8 56.0 46.7 49.6 6 7 4 4 5

Guangxi autonomous region 44.4 33.9 37.6 26.0 30.9 3 12 12 14 13

Guizhou province 29.1 9.0 10.3 6.7 7.4 14 32 31 31 31

Hainan province 29.1 26.1 36.5 30.0 34.4 14 19 15 11 12

Hebei province 28.6 15.8 20.0 13.6 12.2 16 30 28 27 29

Heilongjiang province 17.4 31.8 36.9 28.7 28.6 26 13 14 13 14

Henan province 45.4 18.9 20.2 15.7 16.4 2 25 26 25 25

Hubei province 31.5 34.3 36.2 29.5 28.6 12 11 16 12 15

Hunan province 44.4 22.3 25.7 19.7 19.5 3 23 23 20 23

Inner Mongolia (Nei Mongol) autonomous region 21.3 22.4 25.2 17.8 20.0 21 21 24 22 22

Jiangsu province 32.0 49.5 54.9 40.8 42.1 11 5 5 7 9

Jiangxi province 33.8 18.4 25.7 17.5 17.5 8 27 22 23 24

Jilin province 28.6 37.7 45.4 34.7 36.3 16 10 10 10 10

Liaoning province 13.8 47.8 52.9 44.0 45.3 29 6 6 5 6

Ningxia autonomous region 18.0 29.4 44.5 23.7 35.0 25 15 11 18 11

Qinghai province 14.5 22.3 20.0 10.8 13.4 28 22 27 29 28

Shaanxi province 28.1 17.9 22.9 18.4 20.2 18 28 25 21 21

Shandong province 32.9 30.7 32.5 24.2 23.4 10 14 18 17 18

Shanghai municipality 71.2 70.3 62.2 55.4 56.0 1 2 2 1 1

Shanxi province 21.3 18.4 27.5 19.7 20.7 21 26 19 19 19

Sichuan province 24.8 41.7 46.1 40.4 42.1 19 9 9 8 8

Tianjin municipality 20.0 60.6 59.1 51.4 49.8 23 3 3 3 4

Tibet (Xizang) autonomous region 9.0 9.0 1.6 3.6 31 32 32 32

Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region 18.7 26.3 26.6 14.0 14.8 24 18 20 26 26

Yunnan province 33.8 28.2 37.1 25.0 25.7 8 16 13 16 17

Zhejiang province 29.6 58.0 63.7 53.3 55.4 13 4 1 2 2

Hong Kong special adm. region 25.5 27.1 14.3 12.8 11.1 N/A 17 30 28 30

Macau special adm. region

PRC 32.8 31.0 36.3 27.4 29.2

region	type	abortion percentage	rank
1992	2003	2008	2009	2011	1992	2003	2008	2009	2011
Anhui	province	35.5	19.3	26.0	15.9	20.2	7	24	21	24	20
Beijing	municipality	23.1	79.3	49.7	38.4	55.4	20	1	7	9	3
Chongqing	municipality		42.3	49.7	43.5	42.9		8	8	6	7
Fujian	province	41.2	24.5	33.6	25.9	28.2	5	20	17	15	16
Gansu	province	15.3	17.7	15.9	10.5	13.7	27	29	29	30	27
Guangdong	province	40.8	47.8	56.0	46.7	49.6	6	7	4	4	5
Guangxi	autonomous region	44.4	33.9	37.6	26.0	30.9	3	12	12	14	13
Guizhou	province	29.1	9.0	10.3	6.7	7.4	14	32	31	31	31
Hainan	province	29.1	26.1	36.5	30.0	34.4	14	19	15	11	12
Hebei	province	28.6	15.8	20.0	13.6	12.2	16	30	28	27	29
Heilongjiang	province	17.4	31.8	36.9	28.7	28.6	26	13	14	13	14
Henan	province	45.4	18.9	20.2	15.7	16.4	2	25	26	25	25
Hubei	province	31.5	34.3	36.2	29.5	28.6	12	11	16	12	15
Hunan	province	44.4	22.3	25.7	19.7	19.5	3	23	23	20	23
Inner Mongolia (Nei Mongol)	autonomous region	21.3	22.4	25.2	17.8	20.0	21	21	24	22	22
Jiangsu	province	32.0	49.5	54.9	40.8	42.1	11	5	5	7	9
Jiangxi	province	33.8	18.4	25.7	17.5	17.5	8	27	22	23	24
Jilin	province	28.6	37.7	45.4	34.7	36.3	16	10	10	10	10
Liaoning	province	13.8	47.8	52.9	44.0	45.3	29	6	6	5	6
Ningxia	autonomous region	18.0	29.4	44.5	23.7	35.0	25	15	11	18	11
Qinghai	province	14.5	22.3	20.0	10.8	13.4	28	22	27	29	28
Shaanxi	province	28.1	17.9	22.9	18.4	20.2	18	28	25	21	21
Shandong	province	32.9	30.7	32.5	24.2	23.4	10	14	18	17	18
Shanghai	municipality	71.2	70.3	62.2	55.4	56.0	1	2	2	1	1
Shanxi	province	21.3	18.4	27.5	19.7	20.7	21	26	19	19	19
Sichuan	province	24.8	41.7	46.1	40.4	42.1	19	9	9	8	8
Tianjin	municipality	20.0	60.6	59.1	51.4	49.8	23	3	3	3	4
Tibet (Xizang)	autonomous region		9.0	9.0	1.6	3.6		31	32	32	32
Xinjiang Uygur	autonomous region	18.7	26.3	26.6	14.0	14.8	24	18	20	26	26
Yunnan	province	33.8	28.2	37.1	25.0	25.7	8	16	13	16	17
Zhejiang	province	29.6	58.0	63.7	53.3	55.4	13	4	1	2	2
Hong Kong	special adm. region	25.5	27.1	14.3	12.8	11.1	N/A	17	30	28	30
Macau	special adm. region
PRC		32.8	31.0	36.3	27.4	29.2

Sources:

China Training Center, Reproductive Health and Family Care, 2011, "Total national family planning procedures performed (1971-2009)," CTC, on line [http://www.ctc-health.org.cn/file/2011shoushu.pdf].
GSWS (PRC), on line [http://www.gsws.gov.cn/...3/.../20100316201139457.xls]
Ministry of Health (PRC), on line [http://www.moh.gov.cn/publicfiles/business/htmlfiles/zwgkzt/ptjnj/year2010/2010t7/sheet007.htm]
Ministry of Health (PRC), on line [http://www.moh.gov.cn/open/statistics/year2007/p196.htm]
Ministry of Health (PRC), on line [http://www.moh.gov.cn/open/statistics/year2006/p204.htm]
Ministry of Health (PRC), on line [http://www.moh.gov.cn/open/statistics/on_net_file_2005/s140.htm]
Ministry of Health (PRC), on line [http://www.moh.gov.cn/open/statistics/year2004/p168.htm]
National Bureau of Statistics, 2012, "Population, birth rate, death rate, and natural growth rate by region, 1978-2006", on line, National Bureau of Statistics [http://www.stats.gov.cn/english/]
Office of Technology Assessment, 1982, World Population and Fertility Planning Technologies: The Next 20 Years, US GPO (Washington, DC), on line at FAS [http://www.fas.org/ota/reports/8235.pdf].
Scharping, Thomas, 2003, Birth Control in China 1949-2000: Population Policy and Demographic Development, RoutledgeCurzon (London, UK).
Tien, H. Yuan, 1963, "Induced abortion and population control in mainland China," Marriage and Family Living, 25(1):35-43.
Tien, H. Yuan, 1992, "Abortion in China: Incidence and implications," in The Population of Modern China, ed. By Dudley L. Poston, Jr., and David Yaukey, Plenum Press (New York, NY), pp. 287-310.

© 2004-2012, 2015 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 25 January 2015.
Return to Home. Return to Other Policy Issues. Return to Abortion Statistics.

region	1956	1965	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1988	1990	1991	1992	1994	1996	2003	2004	2005	2006	2008	2009	2010	2011	region
Anhui												37.5	10.7	22.5	31.0	35.5	32.4	20.0	19.3	17.6	18.6	18.0	26.0	15.9		20.2	Anhui
Beijing	1.0	25.9											25.9	25.9	35.5	23.1	15.3	11.5	79.3	77.1	61.5	59.6	49.7	38.4		55.4	Beijing
Chongqing																			42.3	66.1	47.2	45.7	49.7	43.5		42.9	Chongqing
Fujian													6.5	33.8	45.1	41.2	34.2	22.5	24.5	27.8	26.4	27.7	33.6	25.9		28.2	Fujian
Gansu				7.5	9.0	10.6	8.2	9.3	10.6	23.1	12.8	16.6	4.8	27.0	19.4	15.3	11.5	16.7	17.7	16.5	18.7	17.3	15.9	10.5		13.7	Gansu
Guangdong		7.4						24.1			30.5		9.1	37.5	40.8	40.8	39.4	35.5	47.8	47.0	49.2	47.8	56.0	46.7		49.6	Guangdong
Guangxi													11.5	40.5	31.0	44.4	39.4	31.5	33.9	34.4	33.9	34.4	37.6	26.0		30.9	Guangxi
Guizhou		2.0											5.7	27.5	29.1	29.1	28.1	26.5	9.0	9.8	8.4	7.8	10.3	6.7		7.4	Guizhou
Hainan													9.1	32.0	33.3	29.1	28.6	23.7	26.1	34.1	33.3	31.7	36.5	30.0		34.4	Hainan
Hebei		7.4	21.3	23.1	23.7	24.2	21.9	23.7	23.7	32.9	37.1		10.7	36.3	40.8	28.6	20.6	9.1	15.8	13.4	13.0	13.8	20.0	13.6		12.2	Hebei
Heilongjiang												43.5	10.7	18.7	20.0	17.4	9.9	5.7	31.8	31.1	31.7	31.5	36.9	28.7		28.6	Heilongjiang
Henan													6.5	32.0	43.5	45.4	12.3	9.9	18.9	18.6	18.9	18.9	20.2	15.7		16.4	Henan
Hubei												42.2	13.8	29.6	32.4	31.5	27.0	19.4	34.3	32.4	33.4	33.5	36.2	29.5		28.6	Hubei
Hunan		2.9											10.7	34.2	40.5	44.4	26.5	19.4	22.3	18.8	20.5	21.0	25.7	19.7		19.5	Hunan
Inner Mongolia													8.3	20.0	18.7	21.3	13.8	10.7	22.4	23.8	23.1	23.4	25.2	17.8		20.0	Inner Mongolia
Jiangsu		13.0										47.1	17.4	32.4	36.3	32.0	21.3	20.0	49.5	49.7	51.2	51.6	54.9	40.8		42.1	Jiangsu
Jiangxi												24.8	9.1	24.8	29.1	33.8	23.1	25.4	18.4	17.2	19.1	21.0	25.7	17.5		17.5	Jiangxi
Jilin		4.8											11.5	16.7	18.0	28.6	16.7	9.1	37.7	40.3	36.8	40.8	45.4	34.7		36.3	Jilin
Liaoning													13.8	13.0	17.4	13.8	8.3	6.5	47.8	48.4	45.4	48.7	52.9	44.0		45.3	Liaoning
Ningxia													7.4	18.0	18.0	18.0	13.0	8.3	29.4	28.9	23.9	26.8	44.5	23.7		35.0	Ningxia
Qinghai													6.5	21.3	19.4	14.5	13.8	7.4	22.3	20.0	19.8	20.2	20.0	10.8		13.4	Qinghai
Shaanxi													7.4	29.1	32.0	28.1	28.1	20.0	17.9	17.9	19.1	18.7	22.9	18.4		20.2	Shaanxi
Shandong													16.0	38.7	45.4	32.9	12.3	5.7	30.7	27.7	28.1	27.8	32.5	24.2		23.4	Shandong
Shanghai		30.6				50.0	50.0	52.1	52.3	55.4	57.7	54.0	29.1	67.2	71.9	71.2	74.2	73.7	70.3	66.5	62.5	61.7	62.2	55.4		56.0	Shanghai
Shanxi													7.4	17.4	19.4	21.3	25.9	20.6	18.4	17.9	17.8	20.2	27.5	19.7		20.7	Shanxi
Sichuan												42.2	21.9	31.0	32.4	24.8	20.6	19.4	41.7	23.1	40.9	43.4	46.1	40.4		42.1	Sichuan
Tianjin		27.5											21.3	25.9	26.5	20.0	16.7	17.4	60.6	59.7	53.2	59.6	59.1	51.4		49.8	Tianjin
Tibet																		9.9	9.0	6.2	10.1	5.6	9.0	1.6		3.6	Tibet
Xinjiang													8.3	24.8	17.4	18.7	13.8	7.4	26.3	24.1	23.1	24.4	26.6	14.0		14.8	Xinjiang
Yunnan													10.7	35.5	36.3	33.8	23.1	16.0	28.2	23.2	24.6	27.1	37.1	25.0		25.7	Yunnan
Zhejiang			29.6	32.4	34.2	30.1	35.9	35.9	38.7	45.1	51.2		15.3	36.7	35.1	29.6	24.2	21.3	58.0	57.5	57.0	60.6	63.7	53.3		55.4	Zhejiang
PRC	0.0	6.1	15.6	16.9	18.0	19.2	20.2	22.4	23.5	31.1	34.6	29.4	35.5	35.9	38.2	32.8	30.9	29.8	31.0	30.9	30.5	31.5	36.3	27.4	28.5	29.2	PRC