South Africa: abortion rates by province, 1997-2023

compiled by Wm. Robert Johnston
last updated 10 August 2025

Abortion ratios by province, 1997-2023

province 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 province

Eastern Cape 24.1 20.8 22.6 26.4 38.8 48.1 51.0 42.6 65.8 66.4 77.9 84.6 84.5 75.8 91.4 111.6 131.9 120.3 131.8 112.0 105.5 107.9 105.8 86.4 104.1 134.8 152.1 Eastern Cape

Free State 60.6 95.2 91.8 152.7 103.7 83.9 99.9 156.6 159.4 139.6 126.0 159.3 120.7 104.5 104.2 104.0 123.6 119.2 116.9 126.8 147.4 174.6 168.0 157.5 154.6 177.6 185.6 Free State

Gauteng 93.5 145.8 133.6 117.1 132.0 116.3 190.5 210.3 181.3 168.8 120.2 143.4 163.8 107.6 105.5 107.3 92.6 83.9 81.2 117.2 102.8 94.4 99.1 107.7 119.3 156.7 169.0 Gauteng

KwaZulu-Nata 7.1 24.8 31.9 54.2 36.0 44.2 53.8 49.2 55.7 40.1 16.7 22.2 24.8 23.5 28.3 38.1 44.4 44.5 46.7 73.6 116.5 135.2 122.2 110.5 112.6 124.6 137.5 KwaZulu-Nata

Limpopo 6.1 7.9 16.1 24.6 44.6 48.7 42.5 40.6 78.7 93.5 88.3 77.0 73.0 68.0 65.8 64.6 66.7 65.5 71.8 82.9 84.2 93.0 106.0 109.2 108.5 121.8 128.4 Limpopo

Mpumlanga 26.9 29.3 40.4 58.0 55.2 52.0 33.2 50.3 17.3 21.2 20.7 33.0 31.3 31.2 36.3 36.6 34.2 29.4 29.9 41.7 53.7 65.6 86.5 40.7 58.7 111.7 134.7 Mpumlanga

Northern Cape 25.5 35.1 38.6 36.3 44.8 54.9 45.7 74.8 66.7 59.6 71.4 49.1 51.7 47.9 47.9 36.9 50.8 65.9 68.1 55.2 65.2 65.5 61.3 59.3 65.3 89.7 92.7 Northern Cape

North West 4.0 7.6 35.6 36.6 49.4 49.4 30.5 42.9 47.7 92.8 76.1 70.6 74.1 79.1 84.7 85.6 107.3 116.1 153.7 109.5 114.8 247.5 312.4 194.3 152.2 176.0 183.7 North West

Western Cape 45.7 67.1 71.3 81.7 99.4 119.9 123.3 115.9 148.0 123.7 130.8 165.1 127.8 118.6 115.0 125.8 152.3 183.3 195.8 194.9 207.9 189.5 177.5 169.9 169.2 193.0 197.1 Western Cape

SOUTH AFRICA 27.6 42.7 47.8 56.1 59.6 61.2 75.0 84.6 90.1 86.1 73.3 83.9 83.3 70.5 72.9 78.0 85.4 169.6 167.3 198.3 110.9 121.8 127.6 109.9 113.2 143.3 160.0 SOUTH AFRICA

Abortion percentages by province, 1997-2023

province 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 province

Eastern Cape 2.35 2.04 2.21 2.57 3.73 4.59 4.85 4.08 6.17 6.23 7.22 7.80 7.80 7.05 8.38 10.04 11.65 10.74 11.64 10.07 9.54 9.74 9.57 7.96 9.43 11.88 13.21 Eastern Cape

Free State 5.71 8.69 8.41 13.25 9.39 7.74 9.08 13.54 13.75 12.25 11.19 13.74 10.77 9.46 9.44 9.42 11.00 10.65 10.47 11.25 12.85 14.86 14.38 13.61 13.39 15.08 15.66 Free State

Gauteng 8.55 12.72 11.79 10.48 11.66 10.42 16.00 17.38 15.35 14.44 10.73 12.54 14.08 9.71 9.55 9.69 8.47 7.74 7.51 10.49 9.32 8.63 9.02 9.72 10.66 13.54 14.46 Gauteng

KwaZulu-Nata 0.71 2.42 3.09 5.14 3.48 4.23 5.10 4.69 5.28 3.86 1.64 2.17 2.42 2.30 2.75 3.67 4.25 4.26 4.46 6.86 10.44 11.91 10.89 9.95 10.12 11.08 12.09 KwaZulu-Nata

Limpopo 0.61 0.79 1.58 2.40 4.27 4.65 4.08 3.90 7.29 8.55 8.11 7.15 6.80 6.36 6.17 6.07 6.25 6.15 6.70 7.65 7.77 8.51 9.58 9.84 9.79 10.86 11.38 Limpopo

Mpumlanga 2.62 2.84 3.88 5.48 5.23 4.94 3.21 4.79 1.70 2.08 2.03 3.20 3.03 3.03 3.50 3.53 3.31 2.86 2.90 4.01 5.09 6.16 7.96 3.91 5.54 10.05 11.87 Mpumlanga

Northern Cape 2.49 3.39 3.72 3.51 4.29 5.20 4.37 6.96 6.25 5.62 6.67 4.68 4.92 4.57 4.57 3.56 4.84 6.18 6.37 5.23 6.12 6.15 5.77 5.60 6.13 8.24 8.48 Northern Cape

North West 0.40 0.75 3.44 3.53 4.71 4.70 2.96 4.11 4.56 8.50 7.07 6.60 6.90 7.33 7.81 7.89 9.69 10.40 13.32 9.87 10.30 19.84 23.81 16.27 13.21 14.97 15.52 North West

Western Cape 4.37 6.29 6.65 7.55 9.04 10.71 10.97 10.39 12.89 11.01 11.57 14.17 11.33 10.60 10.31 11.17 13.21 15.49 16.38 16.31 17.21 15.93 15.08 14.52 14.47 16.18 16.46 Western Cape

SOUTH AFRICA 2.69 4.10 4.56 5.31 5.63 5.76 6.97 7.80 8.27 7.93 6.83 7.74 7.69 6.59 6.79 7.23 7.87 14.50 14.33 16.55 9.99 10.86 11.32 9.90 10.17 12.53 13.79 SOUTH AFRICA

Abortion ranks by province, 1997-2023

province 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 province

Eastern Cape 6 7 8 8 8 8 5 8 6 6 5 4 4 5 4 2 2 2 3 4 5 5 6 7 7 5 5 Eastern Cape

Free State 2 2 2 1 2 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 3 3 4 2 2 3 3 3 2 2 2 Free State

Gauteng 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 3 3 1 2 2 3 5 5 5 3 6 6 7 6 4 4 4 Gauteng

KwaZulu-Nata 7 6 7 5 9 9 4 6 7 8 9 9 9 9 9 7 8 8 8 7 3 4 4 4 5 6 6 KwaZulu-Nata

Limpopo 8 8 9 9 7 7 7 9 4 4 4 5 6 6 6 6 6 7 6 6 7 7 5 5 6 7 8 Limpopo

Mpumlanga 4 5 4 4 4 5 8 5 9 9 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 8 8 9 9 8 7 Mpumlanga

Northern Cape 5 4 5 7 6 4 6 4 5 7 7 7 7 7 7 8 7 6 7 8 8 9 9 8 8 9 9 Northern Cape

North West 9 9 6 6 5 6 9 7 8 5 6 6 5 4 5 5 4 4 2 5 4 1 1 1 3 3 3 North West

Western Cape 3 3 3 3 3 1 2 3 3 3 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 Western Cape

Sources:

Dobbie, Mark, Lesego O. Masebe, and Mosidi S. Nhlapo, 2007, "The coverage and quality of birth registration data in South Africa, 1998-2005," Statistics South Africa, on line [http://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/report-03-06-01/report-03-06-012005.pdf].
Health Systems Trust, 2009, "Health Statistics: TOPs (Terminations of Pregnancy)," Health Systems Trust, on line [http://www.hst.org.za/healthstats/47/data].
Health Systems Trust, 2013, "Health Statistics: TOPs (Terminations of Pregnancy)," Health Systems Trust, on line [http://indicators.hst.org.za/healthstats/47/data].
Statistics South Africa, 7 Dec. 1999, "Recorded live births, 1997," Statistics South Africa, on line [http://www.statssa.gov.za/Publications/P0305/P03051997.pdf].
Statistics South Africa, 24 May 2001, "Recorded live births, 1998, 1999, 2000," Statistics South Africa, on line [http://www.statssa.gov.za/Publications/P0305/P03051998,1999,2000.pdf].
Statistics South Africa, 30 July 2002, "Recorded live births, 2001," Statistics South Africa, on line [http://www.statssa.gov.za/Publications/P0305/P03052001.pdf].
Statistics South Africa, 22 April 2003, "Recorded live births, 2002," Statistics South Africa, on line [http://www.statssa.gov.za/Publications/P0305/P03052002.pdf].
Statistics South Africa, 29 June 2004, "Recorded live births, 2003," Statistics South Africa, on line [http://www.statssa.gov.za/Publications/P0305/P03052003.pdf].
Statistics South Africa, 4 Aug. 2005, "Recorded live births, 2004," Statistics South Africa, on line [http://www.statssa.gov.za/Publications/P0305/P03052004.pdf].
Statistics South Africa, 10 Oct. 2006, "Recorded live births, 2005," Statistics South Africa, on line [http://www.statssa.gov.za/Publications/P0305/P03052005.pdf].
Statistics South Africa, 28 Nov. 2007, "Recorded live births, 2006," Statistics South Africa, on line [http://www.statssa.gov.za/Publications/P0305/P03052006.pdf].
Statistics South Africa, 24 July 2008, "Recorded live births, 2007," Statistics South Africa, on line [http://www.statssa.gov.za/Publications/P0305/P03052007.pdf].
Statistics South Africa, 23 Nov. 2009, "Recorded live births, 2008," Statistics South Africa, on line [http://www.statssa.gov.za/Publications/P0305/P03052008.pdf].
Statistics South Africa, 16 Aug. 2010, "Recorded live births, 2009," Statistics South Africa, on line [http://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P0305/P03052009.pdf].
Statistics South Africa, 18 Aug. 2011, "Recorded live births, 2010," Statistics South Africa, on line [http://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P0305/P03052010.pdf].
Statistics South Africa, 16 Aug. 2012, "Recorded live births, 2011," Statistics South Africa, on line [http://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P0305/P03052011.pdf].
Statistics South Africa, 18 Nov. 2013, "Recorded live births, 2012," Statistics South Africa, on line [http://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P0305/P03052012.pdf].
Commission for Gender Equality, 2021, "Investigation into choice on termination of pregnancies in South Africa," CGE, on line [https://cge.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Investigation-into-choice-on-Termination-of-Pregnancies-in-SA.pdf].
Engelbrecht, Michelle Catherine, Nov. 2005, "Termination of pregnancy policy and services: an appraisal of the implementation and operation of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act (92 of 1996)," Ph.D. thesis, University of the Free State, on line at University of the Free State [http://etd.uovs.ac.za/ETD-db//theses/available/etd-08212006-132756/unrestricted/EngelbrechtMC.pdf].
Epidemiological Research and Surveillance Management, 2006, Update on the choice on termination of pregnancy in the Eastern Cape, 1997-2005.
Fawcus, S., S. Gebhardt, R. Niit, and R. Pattinson, 2024, Resilence in the time of crisis: A review of maternal, perinatal and reproductive health effects of COVID-19 in South Africa, South African Medical Journal, 114(5):12, on line [https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i5.1757].
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Motsoaledi, Aaron, 11 Dec. 2024, "Question: 2299," National Assembly, on line [https://pa.org.za/questions/questions-asked-to-the-minister-of-health/2024-w2299-11-december-2024].
Ndiovu, Noluthando, Candy Day, Andy Gray, Jacob Busang, and Linda Mureithi, 2022, "Health and related indicators 2021," Health Systems Trust, on line [https://www.hst.org.za/publications/South%20African%20Health%20Reviews/Chapter29_Indicators_SAHR21_04022022_OD.pdf].
Ndiovu, Noluthando, Andrew Gray, Ntombifuthi Blose, and Matome Mokganya, 2023, "Health and related indicators, 2023," Health Systems Trust, on line [122768-health-and-related-indicators-2023.pdf].
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© 2004-2015, 2025 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 10 August 2025.
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province	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	province
Eastern Cape	24.1	20.8	22.6	26.4	38.8	48.1	51.0	42.6	65.8	66.4	77.9	84.6	84.5	75.8	91.4	111.6	131.9	120.3	131.8	112.0	105.5	107.9	105.8	86.4	104.1	134.8	152.1	Eastern Cape
Free State	60.6	95.2	91.8	152.7	103.7	83.9	99.9	156.6	159.4	139.6	126.0	159.3	120.7	104.5	104.2	104.0	123.6	119.2	116.9	126.8	147.4	174.6	168.0	157.5	154.6	177.6	185.6	Free State
Gauteng	93.5	145.8	133.6	117.1	132.0	116.3	190.5	210.3	181.3	168.8	120.2	143.4	163.8	107.6	105.5	107.3	92.6	83.9	81.2	117.2	102.8	94.4	99.1	107.7	119.3	156.7	169.0	Gauteng
KwaZulu-Nata	7.1	24.8	31.9	54.2	36.0	44.2	53.8	49.2	55.7	40.1	16.7	22.2	24.8	23.5	28.3	38.1	44.4	44.5	46.7	73.6	116.5	135.2	122.2	110.5	112.6	124.6	137.5	KwaZulu-Nata
Limpopo	6.1	7.9	16.1	24.6	44.6	48.7	42.5	40.6	78.7	93.5	88.3	77.0	73.0	68.0	65.8	64.6	66.7	65.5	71.8	82.9	84.2	93.0	106.0	109.2	108.5	121.8	128.4	Limpopo
Mpumlanga	26.9	29.3	40.4	58.0	55.2	52.0	33.2	50.3	17.3	21.2	20.7	33.0	31.3	31.2	36.3	36.6	34.2	29.4	29.9	41.7	53.7	65.6	86.5	40.7	58.7	111.7	134.7	Mpumlanga
Northern Cape	25.5	35.1	38.6	36.3	44.8	54.9	45.7	74.8	66.7	59.6	71.4	49.1	51.7	47.9	47.9	36.9	50.8	65.9	68.1	55.2	65.2	65.5	61.3	59.3	65.3	89.7	92.7	Northern Cape
North West	4.0	7.6	35.6	36.6	49.4	49.4	30.5	42.9	47.7	92.8	76.1	70.6	74.1	79.1	84.7	85.6	107.3	116.1	153.7	109.5	114.8	247.5	312.4	194.3	152.2	176.0	183.7	North West
Western Cape	45.7	67.1	71.3	81.7	99.4	119.9	123.3	115.9	148.0	123.7	130.8	165.1	127.8	118.6	115.0	125.8	152.3	183.3	195.8	194.9	207.9	189.5	177.5	169.9	169.2	193.0	197.1	Western Cape
SOUTH AFRICA	27.6	42.7	47.8	56.1	59.6	61.2	75.0	84.6	90.1	86.1	73.3	83.9	83.3	70.5	72.9	78.0	85.4	169.6	167.3	198.3	110.9	121.8	127.6	109.9	113.2	143.3	160.0	SOUTH AFRICA

province	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	province
Eastern Cape	2.35	2.04	2.21	2.57	3.73	4.59	4.85	4.08	6.17	6.23	7.22	7.80	7.80	7.05	8.38	10.04	11.65	10.74	11.64	10.07	9.54	9.74	9.57	7.96	9.43	11.88	13.21	Eastern Cape
Free State	5.71	8.69	8.41	13.25	9.39	7.74	9.08	13.54	13.75	12.25	11.19	13.74	10.77	9.46	9.44	9.42	11.00	10.65	10.47	11.25	12.85	14.86	14.38	13.61	13.39	15.08	15.66	Free State
Gauteng	8.55	12.72	11.79	10.48	11.66	10.42	16.00	17.38	15.35	14.44	10.73	12.54	14.08	9.71	9.55	9.69	8.47	7.74	7.51	10.49	9.32	8.63	9.02	9.72	10.66	13.54	14.46	Gauteng
KwaZulu-Nata	0.71	2.42	3.09	5.14	3.48	4.23	5.10	4.69	5.28	3.86	1.64	2.17	2.42	2.30	2.75	3.67	4.25	4.26	4.46	6.86	10.44	11.91	10.89	9.95	10.12	11.08	12.09	KwaZulu-Nata
Limpopo	0.61	0.79	1.58	2.40	4.27	4.65	4.08	3.90	7.29	8.55	8.11	7.15	6.80	6.36	6.17	6.07	6.25	6.15	6.70	7.65	7.77	8.51	9.58	9.84	9.79	10.86	11.38	Limpopo
Mpumlanga	2.62	2.84	3.88	5.48	5.23	4.94	3.21	4.79	1.70	2.08	2.03	3.20	3.03	3.03	3.50	3.53	3.31	2.86	2.90	4.01	5.09	6.16	7.96	3.91	5.54	10.05	11.87	Mpumlanga
Northern Cape	2.49	3.39	3.72	3.51	4.29	5.20	4.37	6.96	6.25	5.62	6.67	4.68	4.92	4.57	4.57	3.56	4.84	6.18	6.37	5.23	6.12	6.15	5.77	5.60	6.13	8.24	8.48	Northern Cape
North West	0.40	0.75	3.44	3.53	4.71	4.70	2.96	4.11	4.56	8.50	7.07	6.60	6.90	7.33	7.81	7.89	9.69	10.40	13.32	9.87	10.30	19.84	23.81	16.27	13.21	14.97	15.52	North West
Western Cape	4.37	6.29	6.65	7.55	9.04	10.71	10.97	10.39	12.89	11.01	11.57	14.17	11.33	10.60	10.31	11.17	13.21	15.49	16.38	16.31	17.21	15.93	15.08	14.52	14.47	16.18	16.46	Western Cape
SOUTH AFRICA	2.69	4.10	4.56	5.31	5.63	5.76	6.97	7.80	8.27	7.93	6.83	7.74	7.69	6.59	6.79	7.23	7.87	14.50	14.33	16.55	9.99	10.86	11.32	9.90	10.17	12.53	13.79	SOUTH AFRICA