{
 "id": "abortions-england-wales",
 "title": "Abortions to residents of England and Wales",
 "category": "health",
 "summary": "Abortions to women resident in England and Wales each year since 1968, by who paid for them – the NHS in its own hospitals or in the independent sector, or the woman herself – with the age-standardised rate per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44, from the Department of Health and Social Care's abortion statistics.",
 "unit": "count",
 "chart": "line",
 "volatile": false,
 "status": "",
 "notes": [
  "Legal abortions to women resident in England and Wales, as Table 1 of the Department of Health and Social Care's abortion statistics gives them, by purchaser: the NHS in its own hospitals, the NHS in the independent sector, whose abortions DHSC counts from 1981, or the woman herself. Abortions to women from outside England and Wales are left out.",
  "1968's figures cover only the eight months from 27 April, when the legislation came into effect. DHSC revised its total for residents in 2004. Its 2023 figures are rounded to the nearest 5, so its purchasers may not add up to the total; the years before are not rounded.",
  "The headline's rate is DHSC's age-standardised rate per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44, standardised to the 2013 European Standard Population; it counts abortions to women of all ages."
 ],
 "provenance": {
  "publisher": "Department of Health and Social Care",
  "publisher_url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care",
  "source_page": "https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/abortion-statistics-in-england-and-wales",
  "licence": "OGL-3.0",
  "licence_name": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.",
  "retrieved_at": "2026-11-08T13:06:31Z",
  "raw_files": [
   {
    "name": "page.json",
    "url": "https://www.gov.uk/api/content/government/statistics/abortion-statistics-for-england-and-wales-2023",
    "sha256": "897325a2ca09146c63ec1e2ca7de1f2285c5444bd930ec01317dd173b48c94e6",
    "bytes": 30648,
    "content_type": "application/json"
   },
   {
    "name": "table.ods",
    "url": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/695fdebb41ddb40d13f76546/abortion-statistics-2023-england-and-wales-residents.ods",
    "sha256": "6af9444757b6e3f1223ae0b258ac627254a83815cd174a8e641bdaf94f7f4fd5",
    "bytes": 118534,
    "content_type": "application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.spreadsheet"
   }
  ]
 },
 "meta": {
  "latest_period": "2023-12-31",
  "age_standardised_rate": {
   "1968": null,
   "1969": 5.1,
   "1970": 7.8,
   "1971": 9.6,
   "1972": 11.0,
   "1973": 11.0,
   "1974": 10.8,
   "1975": 10.4,
   "1976": 9.8,
   "1977": 9.8,
   "1978": 10.5,
   "1979": 11.2,
   "1980": 11.7,
   "1981": 11.5,
   "1982": 11.4,
   "1983": 11.2,
   "1984": 11.8,
   "1985": 12.1,
   "1986": 12.5,
   "1987": 13.2,
   "1988": 14.2,
   "1989": 14.5,
   "1990": 14.9,
   "1991": 14.5,
   "1992": 14.1,
   "1993": 14.0,
   "1994": 14.0,
   "1995": 13.9,
   "1996": 15.3,
   "1997": 15.6,
   "1998": 16.4,
   "1999": 16.1,
   "2000": 16.3,
   "2001": 16.3,
   "2002": 16.3,
   "2003": 16.7,
   "2004": 17.1,
   "2005": 17.1,
   "2006": 17.6,
   "2007": 17.9,
   "2008": 17.5,
   "2009": 16.9,
   "2010": 16.9,
   "2011": 16.9,
   "2012": 16.1,
   "2013": 15.9,
   "2014": 15.9,
   "2015": 16.0,
   "2016": 16.0,
   "2017": 16.7,
   "2018": 17.4,
   "2019": 18.0,
   "2020": 18.2,
   "2021": 18.6,
   "2022": 21.05,
   "2023": 23.0
  },
  "govuk_page": "/government/statistics/abortion-statistics-for-england-and-wales-2023",
  "govuk_page_title": "Abortion statistics for England and Wales: 2023",
  "attachment_title": "Data tables for residents of England and Wales: 2023",
  "accreditation": "Accredited official statistics: GOV.UK's page for the release calls it so"
 },
 "headline": {
  "label": "Abortions to residents",
  "value": 277970.0,
  "period": "2023",
  "note": "an age-standardised rate of 23.0 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44"
 },
 "series": [
  {
   "name": "Abortions to residents",
   "points": [
    {
     "x": "1968",
     "v": 22332.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1969",
     "v": 49829.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1970",
     "v": 75962.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1971",
     "v": 94570.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1972",
     "v": 108565.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1973",
     "v": 110568.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1974",
     "v": 109445.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1975",
     "v": 106224.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1976",
     "v": 101912.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1977",
     "v": 102677.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1978",
     "v": 111851.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1979",
     "v": 120611.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1980",
     "v": 128927.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1981",
     "v": 128581.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1982",
     "v": 128553.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1983",
     "v": 127375.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1984",
     "v": 136388.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1985",
     "v": 141101.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1986",
     "v": 147619.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1987",
     "v": 156191.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1988",
     "v": 168298.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1989",
     "v": 170463.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1990",
     "v": 173900.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1991",
     "v": 167376.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1992",
     "v": 160501.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1993",
     "v": 157846.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1994",
     "v": 156539.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1995",
     "v": 154315.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1996",
     "v": 167916.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1997",
     "v": 170145.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1998",
     "v": 177871.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1999",
     "v": 173701.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2000",
     "v": 175542.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2001",
     "v": 176364.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2002",
     "v": 175932.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2003",
     "v": 181582.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2004",
     "v": 185713.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2005",
     "v": 186416.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2006",
     "v": 193737.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2007",
     "v": 198499.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2008",
     "v": 195296.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2009",
     "v": 189100.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2010",
     "v": 189574.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2011",
     "v": 189931.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2012",
     "v": 185122.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2013",
     "v": 185331.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2014",
     "v": 184571.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2015",
     "v": 185824.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2016",
     "v": 185596.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2017",
     "v": 192900.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2018",
     "v": 200608.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2019",
     "v": 207384.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2020",
     "v": 209917.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2021",
     "v": 214256.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2022",
     "v": 251377.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2023",
     "v": 277970.0
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "NHS funded: NHS hospital",
   "points": [
    {
     "x": "1968",
     "v": 14492.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1969",
     "v": 33562.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1970",
     "v": 47370.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1971",
     "v": 53455.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1972",
     "v": 56861.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1973",
     "v": 55456.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1974",
     "v": 56076.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1975",
     "v": 50941.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1976",
     "v": 50569.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1977",
     "v": 52530.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1978",
     "v": 55040.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1979",
     "v": 55558.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1980",
     "v": 60594.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1981",
     "v": 61103.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1982",
     "v": 62409.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1983",
     "v": 62609.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1984",
     "v": 64823.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1985",
     "v": 65176.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1986",
     "v": 67451.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1987",
     "v": 69442.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1988",
     "v": 69103.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1989",
     "v": 70722.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1990",
     "v": 73517.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1991",
     "v": 75172.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1992",
     "v": 79543.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1993",
     "v": 84071.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1994",
     "v": 85243.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1995",
     "v": 84478.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1996",
     "v": 88410.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1997",
     "v": 86414.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1998",
     "v": 87568.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1999",
     "v": 84992.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2000",
     "v": 81074.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2001",
     "v": 76166.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2002",
     "v": 73544.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2003",
     "v": 75791.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2004",
     "v": 75328.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2005",
     "v": 74744.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2006",
     "v": 75328.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2007",
     "v": 75518.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2008",
     "v": 74433.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2009",
     "v": 71477.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2010",
     "v": 69529.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2011",
     "v": 66470.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2012",
     "v": 64399.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2013",
     "v": 62195.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2014",
     "v": 58168.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2015",
     "v": 55359.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2016",
     "v": 54993.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2017",
     "v": 53829.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2018",
     "v": 52317.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2019",
     "v": 50794.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2020",
     "v": 45750.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2021",
     "v": 45688.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2022",
     "v": 46823.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2023",
     "v": 47895.0
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "NHS funded: independent sector",
   "points": [
    {
     "x": "1968",
     "v": null
    },
    {
     "x": "1969",
     "v": null
    },
    {
     "x": "1970",
     "v": null
    },
    {
     "x": "1971",
     "v": null
    },
    {
     "x": "1972",
     "v": null
    },
    {
     "x": "1973",
     "v": null
    },
    {
     "x": "1974",
     "v": null
    },
    {
     "x": "1975",
     "v": null
    },
    {
     "x": "1976",
     "v": null
    },
    {
     "x": "1977",
     "v": null
    },
    {
     "x": "1978",
     "v": null
    },
    {
     "x": "1979",
     "v": null
    },
    {
     "x": "1980",
     "v": null
    },
    {
     "x": "1981",
     "v": 2343.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1982",
     "v": 4425.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1983",
     "v": 4614.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1984",
     "v": 4912.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1985",
     "v": 5929.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1986",
     "v": 6819.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1987",
     "v": 8041.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1988",
     "v": 9357.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1989",
     "v": 9200.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1990",
     "v": 9582.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1991",
     "v": 9197.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1992",
     "v": 11982.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1993",
     "v": 14835.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1994",
     "v": 19551.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1995",
     "v": 24363.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1996",
     "v": 33255.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1997",
     "v": 37472.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1998",
     "v": 44332.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1999",
     "v": 43266.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2000",
     "v": 50400.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2001",
     "v": 58445.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2002",
     "v": 63938.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2003",
     "v": 69133.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2004",
     "v": 77289.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2005",
     "v": 82518.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2006",
     "v": 92494.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2007",
     "v": 100195.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2008",
     "v": 103905.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2009",
     "v": 106161.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2010",
     "v": 111775.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2011",
     "v": 116582.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2012",
     "v": 114999.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2013",
     "v": 118711.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2014",
     "v": 122754.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2015",
     "v": 126884.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2016",
     "v": 126929.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2017",
     "v": 134768.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2018",
     "v": 144618.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2019",
     "v": 153601.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2020",
     "v": 161314.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2021",
     "v": 165400.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2022",
     "v": 200258.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2023",
     "v": 225790.0
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Privately funded",
   "points": [
    {
     "x": "1968",
     "v": 7840.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1969",
     "v": 16267.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1970",
     "v": 28592.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1971",
     "v": 41115.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1972",
     "v": 51704.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1973",
     "v": 55112.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1974",
     "v": 53369.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1975",
     "v": 55283.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1976",
     "v": 51343.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1977",
     "v": 50147.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1978",
     "v": 56811.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1979",
     "v": 65053.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1980",
     "v": 68333.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1981",
     "v": 65135.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1982",
     "v": 61719.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1983",
     "v": 60152.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1984",
     "v": 66653.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1985",
     "v": 69996.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1986",
     "v": 73349.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1987",
     "v": 78708.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1988",
     "v": 89838.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1989",
     "v": 90541.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1990",
     "v": 90801.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1991",
     "v": 83007.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1992",
     "v": 68976.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1993",
     "v": 58940.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1994",
     "v": 51745.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1995",
     "v": 45474.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1996",
     "v": 46251.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1997",
     "v": 46259.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1998",
     "v": 45971.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1999",
     "v": 45443.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2000",
     "v": 44068.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2001",
     "v": 41753.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2002",
     "v": 38450.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2003",
     "v": 36658.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2004",
     "v": 33096.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2005",
     "v": 29154.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2006",
     "v": 25915.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2007",
     "v": 22786.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2008",
     "v": 16958.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2009",
     "v": 11462.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2010",
     "v": 8270.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2011",
     "v": 6879.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2012",
     "v": 5724.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2013",
     "v": 4425.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2014",
     "v": 3649.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2015",
     "v": 3581.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2016",
     "v": 3674.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2017",
     "v": 4303.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2018",
     "v": 3673.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2019",
     "v": 2989.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2020",
     "v": 2853.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2021",
     "v": 3168.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2022",
     "v": 4296.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2023",
     "v": 4290.0
    }
   ]
  }
 ]
}