PRESS RELEASE:Abortion rates reflect access, autonomy and economic reality 

16 January 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STARTS

New Government statistics show abortions in England and Wales at highest levels since 1967.

As debate continues around abortion statistics, Abortion Rights urges media and policymakers to stop treating abortion rates as a moral barometer and instead recognise what the data actually reflects: access to healthcare and the complex realities people are living with.

Abortion is a normal and essential part of reproductive healthcare. Higher abortion rates are not inherently bad or negative, and do not indicate harm, irresponsibility or social decline – they reflect access also and the choices people make when faced with difficult circumstances.

Key figures from today’s statistics

According to the Abortion Statistics Commentary for England and Wales 2023 published by the UK Government:

• Total abortions: 277,970 — the highest number recorded since the Abortion Act 1967 was introduced. 

• Year-on-year increase: 11% more abortions than in 2022. 

• Age-standardised rate: 23.0 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44, the highest rate on record. 

• Under-18s: The crude abortion rate (The number of abortions in a specified population per year, divided by the total number of women in that population) for those aged under 18 increased from 7.6 to 7.8 per 1,000 women. 

• Medical abortions: 87% of abortions were medical procedures, and 72% involved taking both medications at home. 

• Early-stage procedures: 89% of abortions were carried out at 2–9 weeks’ gestation. 

Important context on data and reporting delays

It is important to note that these figures only cover 2023, and 2024–2025 statistics have not yet been published. Abortion statistics for England and Wales are being released with significant delays due to operational issues, including processing backlogs and changes to data systems. 

This means that official figures are already two years out of date, limiting our ability to draw precise conclusions about current trends, especially against the backdrop of continued economic pressures, persistent contraceptive access barriers and NHS service constraints.

These delays highlight an urgent need for timelier data publication, so that policymakers and the public can understand and respond to real-time reproductive health needs.

What the data represents

These statistics are based on completed statutory abortion notification forms submitted to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Welsh authorities for 2023. They provide the official counts and rates for all legally recorded abortions in England and Wales. 

There are multiple reasons why abortion figures may rise, including:

• Improved access to services, including early medical abortion and telemedicine.
  
  
• Economic pressures such as rising living costs, insecure work and unaffordable housing.
  
  
• Persistent barriers to contraception, including uneven provision and long waits.
  
  
• People delaying parenthood due to financial or social instability, including the rising cost of childcare
  
  
• Greater awareness of reproductive healthcare options.
  
  
• More accurate reporting and data collection.
  
  

“These figures need to be understood in context,” said Kerry Abel, Chair of Abortion Rights. “Abortion rates reflect access and autonomy. They show that people are able to get the healthcare they need, often earlier and more safely.”

In many cases, higher abortion rates can indicate positive public health outcomes, including earlier access to care, reduced stigma and functioning healthcare systems.

Abortion Rights stresses that the real public health concern is unmet need, not abortion itself. Barriers to contraception remain widespread, services are overstretched, and economic insecurity continues to shape reproductive decisions, the  and forcing people to 

“Real choice over our fertility will not be achieved while we face stigma or moral panic,” Abel added. “What we need is accessible contraception, economic security and properly funded healthcare.”

ENDS