Abortion legislation

Legislation timeline

  • 1967: abortion is allowed (Abortion Act dated 17 October)
  • 1990: Human Fertilization and Embryology Act (24 April)

Source: IPPF European Network - Updated January 2012 (http://www.ippfen.org/), Department of Health (http://www.dh.gov.uk/)

Abortion conditions

Ground Gestational limit
To save a woman’s life None
Because foetal impairment None
To preserve a woman’s mental health 24 weeks from LMP
To preserve a woman’s physical health 24 weeks from LMP
For economic and social reasons 24 weeks from LMP
On request

Source: IPPF European Network - Updated January 2012 (http://www.ippfen.org/), Department of Health (http://www.dh.gov.uk/)

Legal conditions

  • Two registered medical practitioners must certify that the required medical grounds have been met.

Practical conditions

Medical abortion conditions

Place Prescription 1st drug taken 2nd drug taken
OB/GYN department of a hospital/clinic Yes Yes Yes
Another physician office Yes Yes Yes
Midwife office No No No
Abortion centre/clinic No No No
At home No No Yes

Source: IPPF European Network - Updated January 2012 (https://www.ippfen.org/), Department of Health (http://www.dh.gov.uk/)

Mandatory pre-abortion examinations

  • None

Involved healthcare professionals

  • Surgical abortion: obstetrician/gynaecologist (OB/GYN) or another physician.
  • Medical abortion: OB/GYN, another physician, midwife or nurse under physician supervision.

Abortion statistics

Abortion rates per 1.000 women aged 15-49

Source: National statistics, Department of Health (Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2020) https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/abortion-statistics-for-england-and-wales-2020

Overall number of induced abortions

Source: National statistics, Department of Health (Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2020) https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/abortion-statistics-for-england-and-wales-2020

includes residents and non-residents

Abortion ratio per 1.000 live births: ()

Source:

Abortions performed “on request”: % ()

Source:

Overall number of induced abortions vs. medical abortions

Source: National statistics, Department of Health (Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2020) https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/abortion-statistics-for-england-and-wales-2020

includes residents only

Induced abortions per gestational age

Unfortunately we have no data for this country.

Source: National statistics, Department of Health (Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2020) https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/abortion-statistics-for-england-and-wales-2020

Residents of England and Wales

Place of abortion

Source: National statistics, Department of Health (Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2020) https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/abortion-statistics-for-england-and-wales-2020

Residents of England and Wales

Characteristics of women having induced abortion

Unfortunately we have no data for this country.

Source: National statistics, Department of Health (Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2020) https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/abortion-statistics-for-england-and-wales-2020

Residents of England and Wales

In 2020, among women who had induced abortion:

  • 99% lived in England or Wales
  • 42% had at least 1 previous induced abortion

Fertility and contraception

Fertility rates in women aged 15-49

Source: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths

Women age at first birth

  • 30,7 years of age (2020)

Country-specific characteristics

  • Consent of 2 physicians required.
  • All HCPs have the right to conscientiously object.
  • Both surgical and medical abortions are free of charge for resident women and non-resident women from Northern Ireland.
  • Other non-resident women have to pay:
    • surgical abortion (up to 14 weeks): around 750 €
    • medical abortion (up to 10 weeks): around 430 €
    • medical abortion (11-14 weeks): around 750 €

Download statistics of England & Wales

The statistics presented are freely accessible and may be used, copied, displayed or distributed provided that their source is given. You can choose whether you prefer to download the statistics of the last 10 years or the full data set. Press one of the buttons to generate a report in PDF format for this country.

Last 10 years
Full data set

Abbreviations

  • EFTA = European Free Trade Association
  • EU = European Union
  • IUD = intra-uterine device
  • LARC = long-acting reversible contraception
  • LMP = last menstruation period
  • GYN = gynaecologist
  • HCP = health care professional
  • hCG = human chorionic gonadotropin
  • HIV = human immunodeficiency virus
  • OB = obstetrician
  • Rh = Rhesus
  • US = ultrasound

References

  • IPPF European Network – Updated January 2012 (http://www.ippfen.org/)
  • Department of Health (http://www.dh.gov.uk/)
  • British Pregnancy Advisory Service (https://www.bpas.org/abortion-care/considering-abortion/prices/)

A special thanks to our correspondents for contributing in data collection.
Please contact info@exelgyn.com if you have additional data or would like to comment information

Page last updated: 31 March 2023