PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Scotland abortion numbers highest ever on record, set to get worse as Humza pledges to introduce abortion up to birth
Abortion statistics released by Public Health Scotland show that the number of abortions carried out in Scotland in 2022 was the highest number on record. This represents an increase of 2,659 abortions or 19.08% in one year, with numbers increasing from 13,937 in 2021 to 16,596 in 2022.
The abortion rate per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 increased from 13.5 in 2021 to 16.1 in 2022. This represents a 19.26% increase from 2021.
The release of the abortion statistics follows the Scottish First Minister, Humza Yousaf, committing to removing abortion from the criminal law, which would introduce abortion on demand, for any reason, up to birth in Scotland – along with legalising sex-selective abortion.
This change in legislation would likely lead to further increases in abortion numbers. A similar law change was introduced in New Zealand in 2020 and data shows that the country saw a 43% increase in late-term abortions in 2020.
The proposal is completely out of line with where women stand on the issue of abortion. Polling from Savanta ComRes on whether time limits for abortion should be increased showed that only 1% of women in Great Britain wanted the time limit to be extended to more than 24 weeks and 1% wanted it to be increased right through to birth, in contrast to 70% of women who favoured a reduction in time limits.
The figures show that:
- There was a total of 16,596 abortions in 2022, an increase of 2,659 abortions from 2021 when there were 13,937 abortions.
- This represents a 19.08% increase from 2021.
- The abortion rate per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 increased from 13.5 in 2021 to 16.1 in 2022.
- This represents a 19.26% increase from 2021.
- There was a rise in repeat abortions from 5,428 in 2021 to 6,443 in 2022.
- This represents an 18.70% increase from 2021.
- 38.82% of abortions performed in 2022 were repeat abortions.
- There was a rise in the number of abortions for girls between 16 and 19 years old, increasing from 1,480 in 2021 to 1,899 in 2022.
- This represents a 28.31% increase from 2021.
- There was a rise in the number of abortions between 12 and 17 weeks gestation from 675 in 2021 to 921 in 2022.
- This represents a 36.44% increase from 2021.
- There was a rise in the number of abortions between 18 and 20 weeks gestation from 85 in 2021 to 127 in 2022.
- This represents a 49.41% increase from 2021.
- There was a rise in the number of abortions where Ground E (the ground under which disability-selective abortions are legal) was listed as one of the grounds for the abortion taking place, from 221 in 2021 to 273 in 2022.
- This represents a 23.53% increase from 2021.
- There was a rise in the number of abortions where a baby had Down’s syndrome, increasing from 32 in 2021 to 59 in 2022.
- This represents an 84.38% increase from 2021.
Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, Catherine Robinson said:
“It is a great tragedy that 16,596 lives were lost to abortion in Scotland last year, the highest number on record”.
“Every one of these abortions represents a failure of our society to protect the lives of babies in the womb and a failure to offer full support to women with unplanned pregnancies”.
“This follows the Scottish First Minister, Humza Yousaf, committing to removing abortion from the criminal law, which would introduce abortion on demand, for any reason, up to birth in Scotland – along with legalising sex-selective abortion”.
“This would likely lead to further increases in abortion numbers. A similar law change was introduced in New Zealand in 2020 and data shows that the country saw a 43% increase in late-term abortions in 2020”.
“We are calling on the Scottish Government to scrap plans to introduce abortion up to birth and instead bring forward sensible new restrictions along with increased support for women with unplanned pregnancies”.
“Polling shows these changes are backed by the public in Scotland and this would ensure we were working together as a society to reduce the tragic number of lives that are lost to abortion each year”.
ENDS
- For additional quotes and media interviews contact press@righttolife.org.uk or 07774 483658.
- For further information on Right To Life UK visit www.righttolife.org.uk
- ComRes interviewed 2,008 GB adults online between 12th and 14th May 2017. Data were weighted by age, gender, region and socio-economic grade to be demographically representative of all GB adults. Full data tables are available here: https://righttolife.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Where-Do-They-Stand-Abortion-Survey-Data-Tables.pdf
- The full 2022 abortion statistics are available here: https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/termination-of-pregnancy-statistics/termination-of-pregnancy-statistics-year-ending-december-2022/