Thursday 15th January 2026
Data released today by the Department of Health shows that:
- In 2023, 277,970 abortions took place in England and Wales, an increase of 11% compared with 2022.
- This is broadly in line with figures previously released by the Scottish Government, which showed a 10% increase over the same period.
- The proportion of abortions carried out at the lowest gestation (2–9 weeks) has increased since the introduction of at home early medical abortion in 2020. In 2019, 82.5% of abortions were performed before 10 weeks’ gestation; by 2023 this had risen to 89.3%.
- 54% of women having an abortion were already mothers.
- The British Pregnancy Advisory Service, BPAS, believe that these figures are reflective of the financial pressures experienced by women and families during the cost-of-living crisis. A 2024 BPAS survey found that financial factors influenced the decision to end a pregnancy for the majority (57%) of women.
Katie Saxon, Chief Strategic Communications Officer at BPAS, said:
"These figures reflect the first full year of abortion care during the cost‑of‑living crisis, which is essential context for understanding the rise in abortion rates.
"No woman should have to end a pregnancy she would otherwise have continued purely for financial reasons. Equally, no woman should become pregnant because she is unable to access the contraception she wants, when she needs it.
"There is no right number of abortions, but there is much more that the government can do to ensure women are able to make the choice that is right for themselves and for their families.
"Women continue to tell us about long waits for contraceptive appointments, difficulties securing repeat prescriptions, and limited choice in the methods available to them. Emergency contraception also remains an important but under-utilised back-up option.
"This data also provides further evidence of the positive impact of at‑home early medical abortion, which has enabled women to end pregnancies at the earliest possible gestation. One in three women will have an abortion in their lifetime, and services must continue to evolve in line with best clinical practice.
"For all women who need us, we will always be here, providing compassionate and high-quality abortion care, without judgement."
The full report, Abortion statistics for England and Wales: 2023, is available online here.
For further comment, please contact Katherine O’Brien, Head of Campaigns and Communications at BPAS, on 07881 265276 or email katherine.obrien@bpas.org
Notes to Editors
Abortion rates by Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) decile were not included in this release due to a lack of available population data at the time of analysis. However, in 2022, women living in the most deprived areas of England were almost twice as likely to have an abortion as those living in the least deprived areas.
On 30th March 2020 in England (and 31st March in Wales), women’s homes were approved for the use of abortion medication up to 9 weeks and 6 days’ gestation. Prior to this change, women were required to attend a hospital or licensed abortion clinic to take mifepristone. The measure was originally time‑limited, but Parliament voted to make permission for this service permanent in 2022.
About BPAS
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service, BPAS, is a charity that sees over 100,000 women a year for reproductive healthcare services including pregnancy counselling, abortion care, miscarriage management and contraception at clinics across Great Britain.
BPAS exists to further women’s reproductive choices. We believe all women should have the right to make their own decisions in and around pregnancy, from the contraception they use to avoid pregnancy right the way through to how they decide to feed their newborn baby, with access to evidence-based information to underpin their choices and high-quality services and support to exercise them.
BPAS also runs the Centre for Reproductive Research and Communication, CRRC. Through rigorous multidisciplinary research and impactful communication, the CRRC aims to inform policy, practice, and public discourse. You can find out more here.