The number of abortions in England and Wales reached a record high in 2023, with providers and doctors attributing the 11% rise to the cost of living crisis and difficulties accessing contraception. Government statistics released on Thursday showed the age-standardised abortion rate was 23.0 per 1,000 women, the highest since the Abortion Act 1967.
Katie Saxon, chief strategic communications officer at BPAS, one of the country's largest abortion providers, said: 'These figures reflect the first full year of abortion care during the cost of living crisis, which is essential context for understanding the rise in abortion rates. No woman should have to end a pregnancy she would otherwise have continued purely for financial reasons. Equally, no woman should become pregnant because she is unable to access the contraception she wants, when she needs it.'
Dr Alison Wright, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, added: 'Economic pressure and the rising cost of living are shaping women's reproductive choices, with many choosing to delay or have smaller families. At the same time, overstretched GP and sexual health services are making it harder for many women – particularly in more deprived communities – to access contraception when they need it.'
The data showed the abortion rate for women aged 35 and over rose from 7.1 per 1,000 in 2013 to 12.3 in 2023, while the rate for under-18s was the lowest at 7.8. Abortions were most common among those aged 20 to 24. The proportion of abortions performed at up to nine weeks' gestation increased from 79% to 89% over the past decade, while terminations beyond 20 weeks remained stable at 1-2%.
Since the Covid pandemic, at-home medical abortions accounted for 72% of all terminations in 2023, following legislation allowing abortion medication to be posted. Saxon said: 'One in three women will have an abortion in their lifetime, and services must continue to evolve in line with best clinical practice.' Wright noted that telemedicine 'removes practical barriers for women who may otherwise struggle to attend in-person appointments, including those in rural areas, women with disabilities, and those experiencing coercion or abuse.'
