Abortion statistics and other data--Johnston's Archive
Historical abortion statistics, Tamil Nadu (India)
compiled by Wm. Robert Johnston
last updated 7 June 2026
Definition of table data (see notes after table for additional information):
- Abortions, reported include all abortions obtained by residents.
- Abortions, estimated (medication) are estimates of non-surgical medication-induced abortions.
- Abortions, estimated (total) are totals for reported abortions and estimated medication-induced abortions.
- Miscarriages generally includes spontaneous fetal losses/spontaneous abortions, fetal deaths, or stillbirths, regardless of gestation period.
- Fetal deaths includes stillbirths.
- Abortion ratio is abortions per 1000 live births.
- Abortion % is abortions as percentage of pregnancies (excluding fetal deaths/miscarriages).
- Abortion rate is abortions per 1000 women ages 15-49.
Tamil Nadu was renamed from Madras in 1969.
| year | live births, reported | live births, estimated | abortions, reported | abortions, estimated (medication) | abortions, estimated (total) | miscarriages | fetal deaths | abortion ratio (reported) | abortion ratio (estimated) | abortion % (reported) | abortion % (estimated) | abortion rate (reported) | abortion rate (estimated) |
|---|
| 1970 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1971 | | (1,294,000) | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1972 | | (1,357,000) | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1973 | | (1,276,000) | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1974 | | (1,263,000) | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1975 | | (1,349,000) | 19,213 | | 19,213 | | | 14.2 | 14.2 | 1.40 | 1.40 | | |
| 1976 | | (1,371,000) | 37,975 | | 37,975 | | | 27.7 | 27.7 | 2.70 | 2.70 | | |
| 1977 | | (1,352,000) | 24,456 | | 24,456 | | | 18.1 | 18.1 | 1.78 | 1.78 | | |
| 1978 | | (1,328,000) | 34,418 | | 34,418 | | | 25.9 | 25.9 | 2.53 | 2.53 | | |
| 1979 | | (1,355,000) | 32,699 | | 32,699 | | | 24.1 | 24.1 | 2.36 | 2.36 | | |
| 1980 | | (1,329,000) | 36,494 | | 36,494 | | | 27.5 | 27.5 | 2.67 | 2.67 | | |
| 1981 | | (1,355,000) | 42,364 | | 42,364 | | | 31.3 | 31.3 | 3.03 | 3.03 | | |
| 1982 | | (1,360,000) | 47,663 | | 47,663 | | | 35.0 | 35.0 | 3.39 | 3.39 | | |
| 1983 | | (1,390,000) | 68,756 | | 68,756 | | | 49.5 | 49.5 | 4.71 | 4.71 | | |
| 1984 | | (1,415,000) | 65,754 | | 65,754 | | | 46.5 | 46.5 | 4.44 | 4.44 | | |
| 1985 | | (1,266,000) | 63,279 | | 63,279 | | | 50.0 | 50.0 | 4.76 | 4.76 | | |
| 1986 | | (1,238,000) | 61,825 | | 61,825 | | | 49.9 | 49.9 | 4.76 | 4.76 | | |
| 1987 | | (1,266,000) | 58,654 | | 58,654 | | | 46.3 | 46.3 | 4.43 | 4.43 | | |
| 1988 | | (1,215,000) | 54,452 | | 54,452 | | | 44.8 | 44.8 | 4.29 | 4.29 | | |
| 1989 | | (1,254,000) | 54,195 | | 54,195 | | | 43.2 | 43.2 | 4.14 | 4.14 | | |
| 1990 | | (1,189,000) | 51,263 | | 51,263 | | | 43.1 | 43.1 | 4.13 | 4.13 | | |
| 1991 | | (1,162,000) | 49,859 | | 49,859 | | | 42.9 | 42.9 | 4.11 | 4.11 | | |
| 1992 | | (1,180,000) | 45,861 | | 45,861 | | | 38.9 | 38.9 | 3.74 | 3.74 | | |
| 1993 | | (1,125,000) | 42,364 | | 42,364 | | | 37.7 | 37.7 | 3.63 | 3.63 | | |
| 1994 | | (1,120,000) | 41,122 | | 41,122 | | | 36.7 | 36.7 | 3.54 | 3.54 | | |
| 1995 | | (1,198,000) | 42,314 | | 42,314 | | | 35.3 | 35.3 | 3.41 | 3.41 | | |
| 1996 | | (1,163,000) | 43,066 | | 43,066 | | | 37.0 | 37.0 | 3.57 | 3.57 | | |
| 1997 | | (1,144,000) | 49,954 | | 49,954 | | | 43.7 | 43.7 | 4.18 | 4.18 | | |
| 1998 | | (1,168,000) | 56,206 | | 56,206 | | | 48.1 | 48.1 | 4.59 | 4.59 | | |
| 1999 | | (1,185,000) | 61,282 | | 61,282 | | | 51.7 | 51.7 | 4.92 | 4.92 | | |
| 2000 | | (1,189,000) | 60,999 | | 60,999 | | | 51.3 | 51.3 | 4.88 | 4.88 | | |
| 2001 | | (1,192,000) | 68,659 | | 68,659 | | | 57.6 | 57.6 | 5.45 | 5.45 | | |
| 2002 | | (1,171,000) | 73,335 | | 73,335 | | | 62.6 | 62.6 | 5.89 | 5.89 | | |
| 2003 | | (1,176,000) | 73,372 | (35,000) | (108,400) | | | 62.4 | (92) | 5.87 | (8.4) | | |
| 2004 | | (1,115,000) | 72,710 | (69,000) | (141,700) | | | 65.2 | (127) | 6.12 | (11.3) | | |
| 2005 | | (1,091,000) | 71,128 | (104,000) | (175,100) | | | 65.2 | (160) | 6.12 | (13.8) | | |
| 2006 | | (1,087,000) | 67,315 | (139,000) | (206,300) | | | 61.9 | (190) | 5.83 | (16.0) | | |
| 2007 | | (1,076,000) | 63,875 | (173,000) | (236,900) | | | 59.4 | (220) | 5.60 | (18.0) | | |
| 2008 | | (1,105,000) | 59,793 | (208,000) | (267,800) | | | 54.1 | (242) | 5.13 | (19.5) | | |
| 2009 | 1,092,433 | (1,142,000) | 60,743 | (243,000) | (303,700) | | | 53.2 | (266) | 5.05 | (21.0) | | |
| 2010 | 1,069,853 | (1,131,000) | 57,893 | (277,000) | (334,900) | | 7,749 | 51.2 | (296) | 4.87 | (22.8) | | |
| 2011 | 1,004,215 | (1,147,000) | 61,718 | (312,000) | (373,700) | | 10,405 | 53.8 | (326) | 5.11 | (24.6) | | |
| 2012 | 1,015,218 | (1,142,000) | 59,470 | (347,000) | (406,500) | | 10,238 | 52.1 | (356) | 4.95 | (26.3) | | |
| 2013 | 1,012,886 | (1,144,000) | 63,324 | (382,000) | (445,300) | | 10,215 | 55.4 | (389) | 5.24 | (28.0) | | |
| 2014 | 970,472 | (1,139,000) | 62,266 | (416,000) | (478,300) | | 8,864 | 54.7 | (420) | 5.18 | (29.6) | | |
| 2015 | 921,035 | (1,134,000) | 62,511 | (451,000) | (513,500) | (59,000) | 5,287 | 55.1 | (453) | 5.22 | (31.2) | 2.90 | (23.8) |
| 2016 | 901,281 | (1,128,000) | 63,078 | (451,000) | (514,100) | | 5,254 | 55.9 | (456) | 5.30 | (31.3) | | |
| 2017 | 904,547 | (1,130,000) | | (451,000) | (498,000) | 38,960 | 7,205 | | (441) | | (30.6) | | |
| 2018 | 939,599 | (1,118,000) | 30,884 | (451,000) | (481,900) | 37,178 | 6,028 | 27.6 | (431) | 2.69 | (30.1) | | |
| 2019 | | (1,084,000) | | (451,000) | (507,000) | | | | (468) | | (31.9) | | |
| 2020 | | (1,056,000) | 80,184 | (451,000) | (531,200) | | | 75.9 | (503) | 7.06 | (33.5) | | |
| 2021 | 920,615 | (1,027,000) | 83,176 | (451,000) | (534,200) | (110,000) | 5,052 | 81.0 | (520) | 7.49 | (34.2) | | |
| 2022 | | (929,000) | 91,953 | (451,000) | (543,000) | | | 99.0 | (584) | 9.01 | (36.9) | | |
| 2023 | | (924,000) | 102,641 | (451,000) | (553,600) | | | 111.1 | (599) | 10.00 | (37.5) | | |
| 2024 | | (894,000) | 101,414 | (451,000) | (552,400) | | | 113.4 | (618) | 10.19 | (38.2) | | |
| 2025 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| year | live births, reported | live births, estimated | abortions, reported | abortions, estimated (medication) | abortions, estimated (total) | miscarriages | fetal deaths | abortion ratio (reported) | abortion ratio (estimated) | abortion % (reported) | abortion % (estimated) | abortion rate (reported) | abortion rate (estimated) |
|---|
Notes:
- Abortion data may be significantly incomplete.
Sources (incomplete):
- Centre for Enquiry Into Health and Allied Themes, "State-level data on number of registered abortions and MTP centre," CEHAT, on line [http://www.cehat.org/aap1/dataabortion.pdf].
- Diyali, Chandrakala, "Chapter 1: Introduction," National Commission for Women, on line [http://ncw.nic.in/pdfreports/Sikkim%20Book.pdf].
- Government of India, "Economic review 2007-08," Government of India, on line [http://india.gov.in/allimpfrms/alldocs/11887.pdf].
- Government of India, "Health, family welfare, sanitation and social welfare," Government of India, on line [http://india.gov.in/allimpfrms/alldocs/10481.pdf].
- Government of India, 2004, "Statistical Abstract Chapter 1".
- Government of India, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Dec. 2005, "Millennium development goals India country report 2005," Department of Planning, Government of West Bengal, on line [http://wbplan.gov.in/docs/MDG_India_country_Report.pdf].
- Hans, Asha, "Chapter 1: Introduction," National Commission for Women, on line [http://ncw.nic.in/pdfreports/Gender%20Profile-Orissa.pdf].
- Health Services Department, 2009, "Material for independence day speech of the hon'ble minister, health and FW dept., in respect of health services dept.," Health Mizoram, on line [http://healthmizoram.nic.in/epi.html].
- Indian Railways, "Health care," Indian Railways, on line [http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/deptts/Health/HealthCare.htm].
- Khirwadkar, Subhash, Prakash Bhatlawande, and Subhash Salunke, eds., "Health Status: Maharashtra," Health Education to Villages, on line [http://hetv.org/pdf/maharashtra/maharashtra-health-status.pdf].
- Kuppusamy, Periyasamy, Ranjan K. Prusty, Itta K. Chaaithanya, Rahul K. Gajbhiye, and Geetanjali Sachdeva, 2023, "Pregnancy outcomes among Indian women: Increased prevalence of miscarriage and stillbirth during 2015-2021," BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 23:150.
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, "Annual Report 1992-93, Part II, Chapter VI," Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, on line [http://www.mohfw.nic.in/reports/Annual%20Report%201992-93/Part-IIchap-VIa.pdf].
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, "Family Welfare Programme in India Year Book 2001," Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, on line [http://www.mohfw.nic.in/dofw%20website/family%20welfare%20programme/Yb01.pdf].
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, "Health and population indicators," Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, on line [http://www.mohfw.nic.in/dofw%20website/Health%20&%20Poulation%20Indicators/hpi%20frame.htm].
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, 1 May 2007, "Family welfare statistics in India--2006," Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, on line [http://mohfw.nic.in/showfile.php?lid=534].
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, 2011, "Family Welfare Statistics in India 2011," Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, on line [http://mohfw.nic.in/WriteReadData/l892s/972971120FW%20Statistics%202011%20Revised%2031%2010%2011.pdf].
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Sept. 2009, "Family Welfare Statistics in India 2009, Section B: Family welfare programme statistics," Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, on line [http://nrhm-mis.nic.in/UI/FamilyWelfare2009/04%20Section-B/04%20Sec-B-%281-36%29.pdf].
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Sept. 2017, "Health and Family Welfare Statistics in India 2017," Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, on line.
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Oct. 2020, "Health and Family Welfare Statistics in India 2019-20," Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, on line [https://main.mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/HealthandFamilyWelfarestatisticsinIndia201920.pdf].
- Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, "Selected Socio-economic statistics India 2006," Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, on line [http://www.mospi.gov.in/mospi_cso_rept_pubn.htm].
- Mohan, Reeta, and R. S. Goyal, 2000, "The changing pattern of medical termination of pregnancies in Rajasthan and India: A comparative analysis,"The Journal of Family Welfare, 46(1):39-46, on line at [http://medind.nic.in/jah/t00/i1/jaht00i1p39g.pdf].
- National Rural Health Mission, March 2009, "Table 19: Medical termination of pregnancy act summary report for March 2008," National Rural Health Mission, on line [http://arogyakeralam.gov.in/docs/dhs/fwbulletinmarch2009.pdf].
- Sharma, Shantanu, Ajit Kumar Jaiswal, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Paramhans Kumar, and Sunil Mehra, 2021, "Differential access to facilities for medical termination of pregnancy and delivery in India: A secondary analysis," Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health, 12:100825.
- Tejal, Patel, and Leuva Bakul, 2006, "A 17 year review of voluntary termination of pregnancy (MTP)," The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India, 56(6):522-528.
- Ministry of Finance, Government of India, 2023, "Table 8.2: State wise birth rate, death rate & infant mortality rate," Economic Survey 2023-24, on line [https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/budget2024-25/economicsurvey/doc/stat/tab82.pdf].
- Ministry of Finance, Government of India, 2025, "Table 8.2: State wise birth rate, death rate & infant mortality rate (IMR)," Economic Survey 2025-26, on line [https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/economicsurvey/doc/stat/tab8.2.pdf].
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Oct. 2020, "Health and family welfare statistics in India 2019-20," Invest India, on line [https://static.investindia.gov.in/s3fs-public/2020-11/HealthandFamilyWelfarestatisticsinIndia201920.pdf].
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Aug. 2025, "Accessibility of medical termination of pregnancy," Sansad, on line [https://sansad.in/getFile/annex/268/AU2650_jmHVxY.pdf].
- Office of the Registrar General, India, Vital Statistics Division, May 2020, "Sample registration system," SRS Bulletin, 53:1, on line [https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/42682/download/46352/SRS_Bulletin_2018_Vol_53_No_1.pdf].
- Office of the Registrar General, India, Vital Statistics Division, Oct. 2021, "Sample registration system," SRS Bulletin, 54:1, on line [https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/42686/download/46356/SRS_Bulletin_2019_Vol_54_No_1.pdf].
- Office of the Registrar General, India, Vital Statistics Division, May 2025, "Sample registration system," SRS Bulletin, 56:1, on line [https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/45562/download/49759/SRS_Bulletin_2021_Vol_56_No_1.pdf].
- Office of the Registrar General, India, Vital Statistics Division, June 2025, "Sample registration system," SRS Bulletin, 57:1, on line [https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/45567/download/49764/SRS_Bulletin_2022_Vol_57_No_1.pdf].
- Office of the Registrar General, India, Vital Statistics Division, Sept. 2025, "Sample registration system," SRS Bulletin, 58:1, on line [https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/46178/download/50426/SRS_Bulletin_2023_Vol_58_No_1.pdf].
- Office of the Registrar General, India, Vital Statistics Division, May 2026, "Sample registration system," SRS Bulletin, 59:1, on line [https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/47150/download/51394/SRS_Bulletin_2024_Vol_59_No_1.pdf].
- Singh, Susheela, Rubina Hussain, Chander Shekhar, Rajib Acharya, Ann M. Moore, Melissa Stillman, Manas R. Pradhan, Jennifer J. Frost, Harihar Sahoo, Manoj Alagarajan, Aparna Sundaram, Shveta Kalyanwala, and Haley Ball, 2018, "Abortion and unintended pregnancy in six Indian states: Findings and implications for policies and programs," Guttmacher Institute, on line [https://www.guttmacher.org/report/abortion-unintended-pregnancy-six-states-india].
- Singh, Susheela, Chander Shekhar, Rajib Acharya, Ann M Moore, Melissa Stillman, Manas R Pradhan, Jennifer J Frost, Harihar Sahoo, Manoj Alagarajan, Rubina Hussain, Aparna Sundaram, Michael Vlassoff, Shveta Kalyanwala, Alyssa Browne, 2018, "The incidence of abortion and unintended pregnancy in India, 2015," Lancet Global Health, 6:e111-120.
- Unique Identification Authority of India, 2020, "State/UT wise Aadhaar saturation (overall) - all age groups, 31st December, 2020," UIDAI, on line [https://uidai.gov.in/images/state-wise-aadhaar-saturation.pdf].
- Unique Identification Authority of India, 2024, "State/UT wise Aadhaar saturation 31-Oct-24," UIDAI, on line [https://uidai.gov.in/images/Aadhaar_Saturation_Report_31102024.pdf].
- Unique Identification Authority of India, 2026, "State/UT wise Aadhaar saturation 31-Mar-26," UIDAI, on line [https://uidai.gov.in/images/AadhaarSaturationReport.pdf].
© 2025, 2026 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 7 June 2026.
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