Almost 30% Pregnancies End in Abortion England, Wales 2022

In England and Wales, nearly 30% of all conceptions ended in legal abortion in 2022, marking the highest rate since records began and a significant increase from about 20% a decade earlier, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The number of conceptions leading to abortion rose by 13.1% from 2021 to 2022, reaching 247,703, while overall abortions hit a record 251,377, the highest since the Abortion Act was introduced nearly 60 years ago. The rise has been observed across all age groups and is partly attributed to significant barriers women face in accessing contraception, including long wait times and difficulty securing appointments, as well as financial pressures linked to the cost of living crisis. Katherine O’Brien of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (Bpas) highlighted that delays in contraception access have led some women to seek abortion after unintended pregnancies. The data also shows that the highest abortion rates were among girls under 16, with women aged 30-34 having the lowest proportion of conceptions ending in abortion. These trends come amid recent legal changes decriminalizing abortion after 24 weeks or without approval from two doctors, reflecting broader shifts in abortion laws and access in the UK.