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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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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.