Historical abortion statistics, England (UK)

Historical abortion statistics, England (UK)

compiled by Wm. Robert Johnston
last updated 10 September 2022

Definition of table data:

Abortions, occurrences include all abortions performed in England.
Abortions, residents only include abortions performed in England to England residents.
Abortions, out of area include abortions obtained by England residents elsewhere in the UK.
Abortions, all to residents include all abortions obtained by England residents.
Fetal deaths primarily includes stillbirths.

year live births abortions stillbirths abortion ratio abortion %

occurrences residents only out of area all to residents occurrences all to residents occurrences all to residents

1929 599,078

1930 604,870

1931 589,751

1932 573,099

1933 540,989

1934 557,686

1935 559,569

1936 567,383

1937 573,382

1938 583,579

1939 581,950

1940 567,710

1941 539,205

1942 608,373

1943 641,064

1944 704,748

1945 638,422

1946 773,153

1947 829,863

1948 728,131

1949 686,181 15,659

1950 654,321 14,887

1951 636,259 14,864

1952 632,347 14,444

1953 642,844 14,601

1954 633,395 15,069

1955 628,935 14,698

1956 659,420 15,277

1957 681,736 15,513

1958 698,255 13,100 15,147 18.8 1.84

1959 706,239 13,400 14,758 19.0 1.86

1960 740,858 13,500 14,753 18.2 1.79

1961 766,358 13,800 14,697 18.0 1.77

1962 793,354 16,200 14,445 20.4 2.00

1963 807,017 16,000 14,035 19.8 1.94

1964 828,470 17,600 13,687 21.2 2.08

1965 816,433 18,800 12,962 23.0 2.25

1966 804,957 20,600 12,394 25.6 2.50

1967 788,458 26,200 11,761 33.2 3.22

1968 775,065 22,768 21,320 11,179 29.4 27.5 2.85 2.68

1969 754,456 52,632 47,299 9,988 69.8 62.7 6.52 5.90

1970 741,999 83,389 72,127 9,708 112.4 97.2 10.10 8.86

1971 740,099 123,084 89,772 9,280 166.3 121.3 14.26 10.82

1972 685,485 156,100 103,343 8,267 227.7 150.8 18.55 13.10

1973 638,356 163,664 105,452 7,444 256.4 165.2 20.41 14.18

1974 603,679 159,596 104,536 6,750 264.4 173.2 20.91 14.76

1975 569,473 136,715 101,392 5,923 240.1 178.0 19.36 15.11

1976 550,892 126,725 97,047 5,349 230.0 176.2 18.70 14.98

1977 537,494 129,899 97,669 5,097 241.7 181.7 19.46 15.38

1978 563,110 138,006 106,235 4,795 245.1 188.7 19.68 15.87

1979 601,854 146,035 114,402 4,818 242.6 190.1 19.53 15.97

1980 618,877 157,361 122,636 4,528 254.3 198.2 20.27 16.54

1981 598,646 158,796 122,240 3,943 265.3 204.2 20.96 16.96

1982 590,211 159,397 122,451 3,734 270.1 207.5 21.26 17.18

1983 593,640 158,552 121,511 3,418 267.1 204.7 21.08 16.99

1984 600,957 166,318 130,151 3,434 276.8 216.6 21.68 17.80

1985 619,646 167,896 134,504 3,431 271.0 217.1 21.32 17.84

1986 623,980 168,140 140,873 3,340 269.5 225.8 21.23 18.42

1987 643,695 170,136 149,386 3,227 264.3 232.1 20.91 18.84

1988 654,753 179,579 160,919 3,196 274.3 245.8 21.52 19.73

1989 649,706 179,720 163,097 3,060 276.6 251.0 21.67 20.07

1990 667,274 182,359 166,460 3,076 273.3 249.5 21.46 19.97

1991 661,138 175,034 160,170 19 160,189 3,077 264.7 242.3 20.93 19.50

1992 652,133 167,775 153,618 27 153,645 2,791 257.3 235.6 20.46 19.07

1993 636,889 164,118 150,893 29 150,922 3,640 257.7 237.0 20.49 19.16

1994 629,360 162,346 149,747 17 149,764 3,604 258.0 238.0 20.51 19.22

1995 613,661 159,282 147,856 19 147,875 3,425 259.6 241.0 20.61 19.42

1996 614,591 172,990 160,613 16 160,629 3,367 281.5 261.4 21.96 20.72

1997 608,575 175,549 162,749 8 162,757 3,263 288.5 267.4 22.39 21.10

1998 602,463 183,055 170,033 9 170,042 3,235 303.8 282.2 23.30 22.01

1999 589,761 178,986 166,098 8 166,106 3,150 303.5 281.6 23.28 21.98

2000 573,137 181,192 168,011 12 168,023 3,058 316.1 293.2 24.02 22.67

2001 564,018 182,162 168,819 5 168,824 3,004 323.0 299.3 24.41 23.04

2002 565,917 168,495 3,208 297.7 22.94

2003 584,387 173,967 3,450 297.7 22.94

2004 607,396 177,691 3,485 292.5 22.63

2005 613,242 178,652 3,308 291.3 22.56

2006 635,973 185,307 3,432 291.4 22.56

2007 655,599 189,734 3,427 289.4 22.44

2008 672,809 186,218 3,452 276.8 21.68

2009 671,058 180,259 3,490 268.6 21.17

2010 687,007 180,942 3,500 263.4 20.85

2011 688,120 181,438 3,580 263.7 20.87

2012 694,241 176,480 3,330 254.2 20.27

2013 664,517 177,016 3,103 266.4 21.03

2014 661,496 176,238 3,047 266.4 21.04

2015 664,399 177,535 2,952 267.2 21.09

2016 663,157 177,350 2,895 267.4 21.10

2017 646,794 184,301 2,679 284.9 22.18

2018 625,651 191,555 2,520 306.2 23.44

2019 610,505 197,908 2,346 324.2 24.48

2020 585,195 200,083 2,231 341.9 25.48

2021 595,948 203,662 2,451 341.7 25.47

year live births abortions stillbirths abortion ratio abortion %

occurrences residents only out of area all to residents occurrences all to residents occurrences all to residents

year	live births	abortions	stillbirths	abortion ratio	abortion %
occurrences	residents only	out of area	all to residents	occurrences	all to residents	occurrences	all to residents
1929	599,078
1930	604,870
1931	589,751
1932	573,099
1933	540,989
1934	557,686
1935	559,569
1936	567,383
1937	573,382
1938	583,579
1939	581,950
1940	567,710
1941	539,205
1942	608,373
1943	641,064
1944	704,748
1945	638,422
1946	773,153
1947	829,863
1948	728,131
1949	686,181					15,659
1950	654,321					14,887
1951	636,259					14,864
1952	632,347					14,444
1953	642,844					14,601
1954	633,395					15,069
1955	628,935					14,698
1956	659,420					15,277
1957	681,736					15,513
1958	698,255	13,100				15,147	18.8		1.84
1959	706,239	13,400				14,758	19.0		1.86
1960	740,858	13,500				14,753	18.2		1.79
1961	766,358	13,800				14,697	18.0		1.77
1962	793,354	16,200				14,445	20.4		2.00
1963	807,017	16,000				14,035	19.8		1.94
1964	828,470	17,600				13,687	21.2		2.08
1965	816,433	18,800				12,962	23.0		2.25
1966	804,957	20,600				12,394	25.6		2.50
1967	788,458	26,200				11,761	33.2		3.22
1968	775,065	22,768			21,320	11,179	29.4	27.5	2.85	2.68
1969	754,456	52,632			47,299	9,988	69.8	62.7	6.52	5.90
1970	741,999	83,389			72,127	9,708	112.4	97.2	10.10	8.86
1971	740,099	123,084			89,772	9,280	166.3	121.3	14.26	10.82
1972	685,485	156,100			103,343	8,267	227.7	150.8	18.55	13.10
1973	638,356	163,664			105,452	7,444	256.4	165.2	20.41	14.18
1974	603,679	159,596			104,536	6,750	264.4	173.2	20.91	14.76
1975	569,473	136,715			101,392	5,923	240.1	178.0	19.36	15.11
1976	550,892	126,725			97,047	5,349	230.0	176.2	18.70	14.98
1977	537,494	129,899			97,669	5,097	241.7	181.7	19.46	15.38
1978	563,110	138,006			106,235	4,795	245.1	188.7	19.68	15.87
1979	601,854	146,035			114,402	4,818	242.6	190.1	19.53	15.97
1980	618,877	157,361			122,636	4,528	254.3	198.2	20.27	16.54
1981	598,646	158,796			122,240	3,943	265.3	204.2	20.96	16.96
1982	590,211	159,397			122,451	3,734	270.1	207.5	21.26	17.18
1983	593,640	158,552			121,511	3,418	267.1	204.7	21.08	16.99
1984	600,957	166,318			130,151	3,434	276.8	216.6	21.68	17.80
1985	619,646	167,896			134,504	3,431	271.0	217.1	21.32	17.84
1986	623,980	168,140			140,873	3,340	269.5	225.8	21.23	18.42
1987	643,695	170,136			149,386	3,227	264.3	232.1	20.91	18.84
1988	654,753	179,579			160,919	3,196	274.3	245.8	21.52	19.73
1989	649,706	179,720			163,097	3,060	276.6	251.0	21.67	20.07
1990	667,274	182,359			166,460	3,076	273.3	249.5	21.46	19.97
1991	661,138	175,034	160,170	19	160,189	3,077	264.7	242.3	20.93	19.50
1992	652,133	167,775	153,618	27	153,645	2,791	257.3	235.6	20.46	19.07
1993	636,889	164,118	150,893	29	150,922	3,640	257.7	237.0	20.49	19.16
1994	629,360	162,346	149,747	17	149,764	3,604	258.0	238.0	20.51	19.22
1995	613,661	159,282	147,856	19	147,875	3,425	259.6	241.0	20.61	19.42
1996	614,591	172,990	160,613	16	160,629	3,367	281.5	261.4	21.96	20.72
1997	608,575	175,549	162,749	8	162,757	3,263	288.5	267.4	22.39	21.10
1998	602,463	183,055	170,033	9	170,042	3,235	303.8	282.2	23.30	22.01
1999	589,761	178,986	166,098	8	166,106	3,150	303.5	281.6	23.28	21.98
2000	573,137	181,192	168,011	12	168,023	3,058	316.1	293.2	24.02	22.67
2001	564,018	182,162	168,819	5	168,824	3,004	323.0	299.3	24.41	23.04
2002	565,917				168,495	3,208		297.7		22.94
2003	584,387				173,967	3,450		297.7		22.94
2004	607,396				177,691	3,485		292.5		22.63
2005	613,242				178,652	3,308		291.3		22.56
2006	635,973				185,307	3,432		291.4		22.56
2007	655,599				189,734	3,427		289.4		22.44
2008	672,809				186,218	3,452		276.8		21.68
2009	671,058				180,259	3,490		268.6		21.17
2010	687,007				180,942	3,500		263.4		20.85
2011	688,120				181,438	3,580		263.7		20.87
2012	694,241				176,480	3,330		254.2		20.27
2013	664,517				177,016	3,103		266.4		21.03
2014	661,496				176,238	3,047		266.4		21.04
2015	664,399				177,535	2,952		267.2		21.09
2016	663,157				177,350	2,895		267.4		21.10
2017	646,794				184,301	2,679		284.9		22.18
2018	625,651				191,555	2,520		306.2		23.44
2019	610,505				197,908	2,346		324.2		24.48
2020	585,195				200,083	2,231		341.9		25.48
2021	595,948				203,662	2,451		341.7		25.47
year	live births	abortions	stillbirths	abortion ratio	abortion %
occurrences	residents only	out of area	all to residents	occurrences	all to residents	occurrences	all to residents

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, 30 Oct. 2003, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 2002," Department of Health, on line [http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/08/00/59/04080059.PDF].
Department of Health, 4 July 2006, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 2005," Department of Health, on line [http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/13/68/59/04136859.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].
Department of Health, May 2011, "Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2010," Department of Health, on line [http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_127202.pdf].
Government Statistical Service, 19 June 2007, "Statistical Bulletin: Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2006," Department of Health, on line [http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&dID=142305&Rendition=Web].
Government Statistical Service, June 2008, "Statistical Bulletin: Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2007," Department of Health, on line [http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&dID=142305&Rendition=Web].
Government Statistical Service, May 2009, "Statistical Bulletin: Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2008," Department of Health, on line [http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_099714.pdf].
Government Statistical Service, May 2010, "Statistical Bulletin: Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2009," Department of Health, on line [http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_116336.pdf].
Government Statistical Service, May 2012, "Statistical Bulletin: Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2011," Department of Health, on line [https://www.wp.dh.gov.uk/transparency/files/2012/05/Commentary1.pdf].
Johnston, Wm. Robert, July 2012, "United Kingdom abortions by area," working paper, see "United Kingdom abortions by region," Johnston's Archive, on line [http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/policy/abortion/index.html#UK].
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, 1993, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 1992," National Statistics, on line [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/AB19_1992/ab19_1992.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].
Office for National Statistics, 1998, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 1997," National Statistics, on line [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/AB24_1997/ab24_1997.pdf].
Office for National Statistics, 1999, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 1998," National Statistics, on line [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/AB25_1998/ab25_1998.pdf].
Office for National Statistics, 2000, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 1999," National Statistics, on line [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/AB26_1999/ab26_1999.pdf].
Office for National Statistics, 2001, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 2000," National Statistics, on line [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/AB27/AB_No27_V1.pdf].
Office for National Statistics, 2002, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 2001," National Statistics, on line [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/AB28_2001/AB28_2001.pdf].
Office for National Statistics, 2009, "Review of the National Statistician on births and patterns of family building in England and Wales, 2008," Office for National Statistics, on line [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/FM1-37/FM1_37_2008.pdf].
Office for National Statistics, 16 Sept. 2010, "Live births by usual area of residence, 2009, Office for National Statistics, on line http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/births-by-area-of-usual-residence-of-mother--england-and-wales/2009/live-births-by-usual-area-of-residence-2009.xls].
Office for National Statistics, 15 Sept. 2011, "Live births by usual area of residence, 2010, Office for National Statistics, on line [http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/births-by-area-of-usual-residence-of-mother--england-and-wales/2010/rft-area-2010.xls]

© 2000-2021, 2022 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 10 September 2022.
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