Select Page

A record of over 10,000 abortions in Ireland in 2023, new figures suggest

The Republic of Ireland experienced the highest number of abortions since abortion was made legal in the country, with the latest figures suggesting there were over 10,000 abortions in 2023.

The figures were released by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to Independent TD Carol Nolan and showed that between January and November 2023, GPs in Ireland made claims for reimbursements for 9,218 abortions. Irish pro-life group Pro-Life Campaign highlighted that this figure does not include any abortions that were carried out in hospitals, so the total number of abortions in Ireland in 2023, could exceed 10,000.

This is a significant increase on 2022 when there were 8,876 abortions.

The Irish news group, Gript, has also reported, based on the figures released to Carol Nolan, that between 1 January 2019 and 30 November 2023, 405 doctors were reimbursed for a first and second abortion consultation.

Spokesperson Eilís Mulroy from the Irish pro-life group Pro-Life Campaign said “We are now seeing an alarming trend where the annual abortion rate has risen dramatically since 2019, but most especially in the last two years. Proactive steps which the government can take to reduce the abortion rate must be discussed openly in the national media”.

“The impact of telemedicine has likely had a major impact in increasing the abortion rate. Despite this radical change in abortion policy, not a single vote has ever been cast for or against this radical departure from the original abortion law which the then Minister for Health Simon Harris assured the public would not be operated through telemedicine. The government cannot continue to bury its head in the sand and refuse to listen to the voices of those who have well grounded and practical suggestions on how to reduce the soaring abortion rate”.

Deputy Carol Nolan said “This is now an epidemic of loss”.

“Thousands of women are being betrayed by the over promotion of abortion as the only possible response to pregnancy in certain circumstances and the cruel under promotion of life affirming alternatives. I will continue to shine a light on this issue so that women and families are fully supported with the kind of wrap around service provision that will meaningfully assist them in choosing a different path beyond that of abortion”.

A sharp increase in abortions

A highly controversial review of Ireland’s abortion law last year recommended physicians who perform abortions be immune from prosecution if they perform an abortion at any stage of pregnancy.

The review also recommended the scrapping of the three-day waiting period before an abortion can happen.

This is despite the fact that 1,903 women in Ireland did not proceed with an abortion after an initial abortion appointment and a mandatory three-day waiting period in 2022.

Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, Catherine Robinson, said “Ireland’s continued increase in abortions is deeply sad. Less than a decade ago, unborn babies’ lives were protected by law. Now, according to the latest data, they are being ended at a rate of over 10,000 per year”.

URGENT
APPEAL
to protect vulnerable lives

Help stop three major anti-life threats.

Help fight major assisted suicide and abortion up to birth threats.

Dear reader,

Despite the Leadbeater assisted-suicide Bill passing its Third Reading on 20 June, it scraped through by just 23 votes (314-291) after enjoying a 55-vote majority at Second Reading. Had 12 more MPs switched sides, the Bill would be dead. It now limps into the Lords with a wafer-thin majority, where peers can amend, delay or reject it outright.

THE CHALLENGE

Dignity in Dying, My Death My Decision and Humanists UK have poured millions into pushing assisted suicide and will fight hard to stop the Lords overturning the Bill.

At the same time, the Antoniazzi abortion-up-to-birth amendment, passed by MPs in June, also heads to the Lords. If it becomes law, it would no longer be illegal for women to perform their own abortions for any reason – including sex-selective purposes – and at any point up to and during birth.

We will be up against the UK’s largest abortion providers, BPAS and MSI Reproductive Choices (formerly Marie Stopes), who are expected to push for even more extreme changes to our abortion laws in the Lords.

WE NEED YOUR HELP

Thousands of vulnerable lives are now at stake. Battling these two threats is the biggest and most expensive effort in our history, and has drained our limited resources. To fight effectively on both fronts, we aim to raise £200,000 by midnight this Sunday (13 July 2025).

Every donation, large or small, will help protect lives, and UK taxpayers can add 25p to every £1 through Gift Aid at no extra cost.

Will you make a donation now to help protect vulnerable lives from these major threats?

URGENT
APPEAL
to protect vulnerable lives

Help stop three major anti-life threats.

Help fight major assisted suicide and abortion up to birth threats.