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Abortion was the leading cause of death worldwide in 2019, ending the lives of over 73 million unborn babies

Abortion was the largest cause of death worldwide in 2019, ending the lives of an estimated 73.3 million unborn babies.

The World Health Organisation estimates that there were nearly 55.4 million deaths from causes other than abortion worldwide in 2019. Ischaemic heart disease was responsible for 8.9 million deaths, stroke 6.1 million deaths, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 3.3 million deaths and lower respiratory infections 2.6 million deaths. Deaths from neonatal conditions of children after birth resulted in 2 million deaths, 1.2 million fewer than in 2000.

A study published in The Lancet estimates that 73.3 million abortions were performed in 2019.

Based on these estimates, abortion accounted for 57% of deaths worldwide in 2019. 

John Hopkins University estimates that in 2020 over 1.8 million people worldwide died from COVID-19.

The most recent full year abortion statistics for England and Wales reveal a total of 209,519 abortions in 2019, an increase of 3.4% abortions from 2018 when there were 205,295 abortions.

Interim abortion figures for the first six months of 2020 show a significant rise in the number of abortions performed, compared to the already all-time full year high, recorded in 2019. The statistics showed that 109,836 abortions were performed for English and Welsh residents in the six months between 1 January and 30 June 2020. This is an increase of 4,296 from the same time period in 2019, where 105,540 terminations were performed. 

This significant rise in abortions in the UK coincides with the UK Government’s temporary measure allowing ‘DIY’ home abortions in the UK. Since ‘DIY’ home abortions were introduced in late March, a number of significant problems have arisen. A nationwide undercover investigation found evidence of abortion providers putting women at significant risk by not carrying out basic checks before sending them ‘DIY’ home abortion pills. It also discovered ‘DIY’ home abortion pills can easily be obtained and administered to others, potentially in a coercive manner.

In May, it was revealed UK police were investigating the death of an unborn baby after its mother took ‘DIY’ home abortion pills while 28 weeks pregnant.

In addition, abortion provider BPAS announced that it was investigating a further eight cases of women taking ‘DIY’ home abortion pills beyond the 10-week limit, raising questions over what checks are being conducted to ensure the law isn’t being broken and dangerous later-term abortions aren’t happening. 

A number of women have also come forward to share the serious problems they’ve experienced after taking ‘DIY’ home abortion pills. One woman said she went through “hell” and thought she was going to die after taking the dangerous pills. Another woman said the pain and physical process was “horrible” and “a lot worse than expected”.

Right To Life UK spokesperson, Catherine Robinson, said:  “Abortion is the leading global cause of death by an extremely large margin. While the womb should be the safest place in the world, it is in fact one of the most dangerous”.

“Seventy-three million lives lost to abortion is a global tragedy. UK taxpayers have funded a very large number of these abortions overseas through their support of MSI Reproductive Choices, as the largest single donor to this organisation, along with funding a number of other organisations who perform abortions in developing countries”.

“This occurs in spite of that fact that the majority of the public support the Government removing funding of abortions overseas. We are calling on the Government to immediately cut funding to abortion-providing organisations who are fueling this global tragedy”.

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to protect vulnerable lives

Help stop three major anti-life threats.

Help fight the next phase of our battles against major assisted suicide and abortion up to birth threats.

Dear reader,

We are facing two major threats in the Lords - an extreme assisted suicide Bill and an abortion up to birth amendment.

THE GOOD NEWS - OUR STRATEGY IS WORKING

At Second Reading of the Leadbeater assisted suicide Bill in the House of Lords, a record number of Peers spoke, and of those who took a position, around two-thirds opposed the assisted suicide Bill. That is more than double the number who supported it.

Our side also secured a significant win, with the establishment of a dedicated Lords Select Committee to further scrutinise the Bill’s proposals – and Committee Stage has been delayed until it reports.

This momentum has been built by tens of thousands of people like you. Thanks to your hard work, Peers are receiving a very large number of emails and letters by post, making the case against the Bill. 

Thanks to your support, we have been able to mount a major campaign in Parliament, in the media and online – alongside your own efforts – to keep us on course for our goal: that this dangerous Bill never becomes law.

BUT MORE CHALLENGES LIE AHEAD

We cannot become complacent. Well-funded groups - Dignity in Dying, My Death My Decision and Humanists UK - have poured millions into pushing assisted suicide. They can see support is slipping and will fight hard to reverse that.

This is not the only fight we are facing in the House of Lords.

At the same time, the Antoniazzi abortion up to birth amendment, which passed in the House of Commons in June, is moving through the House of Lords as part of the Crime and Policing Bill.

Second Reading will take place in a matter of weeks. It will then go on to Committee and Report Stages, where we will be up against the UK’s largest abortion providers – BPAS and MSI Reproductive Choices (formerly Marie Stopes) – who are expected to lobby for even more extreme changes to our abortion laws.

If the Antoniazzi amendment becomes law, it would no longer be illegal for women to perform their own abortions for any reason – including sex-selective purposes – at any point up to and during birth.

Thousands of vulnerable lives - at the beginning and the end of life - depend on what happens next. We must do everything in our power to stop these radical proposals.

WE NEED YOUR HELP

Our campaign against the Leadbeater Bill in the House of Lords is working, but the work we have already done has significantly stretched our limited resources.

We are now stepping up our efforts against the assisted suicide Bill while launching a major push to stop the abortion up to birth amendment in the Lords. 

To fight effectively on both fronts, we aim to raise £183,750 by midnight this Sunday (5 October 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 donate now to help protect vulnerable lives from these two major threats?

URGENT
APPEAL
to protect vulnerable lives

Help stop three major anti-life threats.

Help fight the next phase of our battles against major assisted suicide and abortion up to birth threats.