Northern Ireland: abortions and live births by health region, 2006-2023

Northern Ireland: abortions and live births by health region, 2006-2023

compiled by Wm. Robert Johnston
last updated 3 August 2025

Northern Ireland abortions by health region of residence, 2006-2023

area 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 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 2024 area

Belfast 16 18 13 9 14 15 13 14 12 7 8 15 528 566 668 793 Belfast

Northern 12 12 4 7 12 3 11 293 419 572 610 Northern

South Eastern 17 12 15 12 4 13 16 259 385 437 558 South Eastern

Southern 10 5 8 9 2 2 283 359 415 523 Southern

Western 1 6 0 4 2 8 206 28 76 308 Western

unknown NI resident 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 9 2 16 5 4 8 7 5 0 0 0 unknown NI resident

occurring in NI to NI resident (35) (30) (25) (40) (25) (30) (25) (25) (40) (45) 57 47 43 36 43 35 50 23 14 16 12 12 8 22 1,574 1,757 2,168 2,792 occurring in NI to NI resident

occurring in NI to non-resident 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 occurring in NI to non-resident

total occurring in Northern Ireland 57 47 44 36 43 35 51 23 16 16 13 12 8 22 1,574 1,757 2,168 2,792 total occurring in Northern Ireland

occurring in England/Wales to NI resident 36 96 199 648 772 1,003 1,091 1,111 1,142 1,241 1,306 1,418 1,565 1,441 1,510 1,460 1,530 1,637 1,724 1,746 1,815 1,816 1,855 1,775 1,794 1,629 1,678 1,548 1,573 1,572 1,581 1,430 1,528 1,511 1,391 1,318 1,280 1,164 1,295 1,343 1,173 1,123 1,101 1,007 905 802 837 833 724 861 1,053 1,014 371 161 172 occurring in England/Wales to NI resident

occurring in Scotland to NI resident 3 2 2 (5) (5) (5) 0 occurring in Scotland to NI resident

occurring in Ireland to NI resident 67 36 5 12 9 8 occurring in Ireland to NI resident

total Northern Ireland residents 36 96 199 648 772 1,003 1,091 1,111 1,142 1,241 1,306 1,418 1,565 1,441 1,510 1,460 1,530 1,637 1,724 1,746 1,815 1,816 1,855 1,775 1,794 1,629 1,678 1,548 1,608 1,602 1,606 1,470 1,553 1,544 1,416 1,343 1,320 1,209 1,352 1,390 1,216 1,161 1,146 1,042 955 825 851 849 736 873 1,061 1,108 1,986 1,928 2,352 2,801 8 total Northern Ireland residents

Northern Ireland live births by health region of residence, 1974-2023

area 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 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 2024 area

Belfast 5,995 5,586 5,479 5,298 5,336 5,869 5,757 5,526 5,478 5,476 5,696 5,802 6,049 5,868 5,967 5,386 5,547 5,662 5,407 5,232 4,923 4,719 4,960 4,759 4,608 4,428 4,153 4,084 3,912 4,054 4,136 4,011 4,147 4,467 4,745 4,690 4,795 4,840 4,934 4,765 4,697 4,646 4,644 4,323 4,425 4,327 3,852 4,317 3,789 3,759 Belfast

Northern 6,535 6,353 6,464 6,119 6,373 6,771 6,885 6,598 6,272 6,425 6,452 6,397 6,592 6,629 6,374 6,181 6,189 6,032 6,064 5,930 5,894 5,759 5,895 5,897 5,774 5,626 5,303 5,413 5,421 5,335 5,697 5,623 5,781 6,021 6,347 5,947 6,110 6,048 5,959 5,870 5,879 5,763 5,740 5,535 5,292 5,384 5,108 5,166 5,032 4,858 Northern

South Eastern 4,435 4,138 4,267 4,206 4,211 4,569 4,752 4,387 4,532 4,363 4,711 4,540 4,536 4,507 4,692 4,406 4,564 4,594 4,463 4,271 4,232 4,233 4,338 4,355 4,323 4,227 3,929 3,995 3,742 3,957 4,069 3,984 4,240 4,528 4,676 4,532 4,514 4,595 4,526 4,355 4,326 4,323 4,234 4,017 4,061 3,900 3,587 3,937 3,693 3,567 South Eastern

Southern 5,096 4,989 4,999 4,880 5,064 5,568 5,544 5,278 5,291 5,405 5,323 5,436 5,409 5,426 5,329 5,072 5,154 5,093 4,875 4,734 4,783 4,629 4,694 4,720 4,628 4,575 4,212 4,556 4,422 4,469 4,682 4,813 5,038 5,362 5,591 5,532 5,712 5,522 5,701 5,367 5,457 5,524 5,516 5,360 5,244 5,150 4,777 4,989 4,936 4,582 Southern

Western 5,099 5,064 5,152 4,934 5,255 5,401 5,644 5,377 5,299 5,357 5,295 5,252 5,389 5,223 5,152 4,786 4,797 4,647 4,545 4,555 4,266 4,353 4,495 4,356 4,335 4,101 3,915 3,914 3,888 3,833 3,734 3,897 4,066 4,073 4,272 4,209 4,184 4,268 4,149 3,920 4,035 3,959 3,942 3,840 3,807 3,686 3,491 3,662 3,387 3,196 Western

Northern Ireland total 33,173 32,428 32,086 31,765 29,994 29,200 27,160 26,130 26,361 25,437 26,239 28,178 28,582 27,166 26,872 27,026 27,477 27,427 27,975 27,653 27,514 25,831 26,251 26,028 25,354 24,722 24,098 23,693 24,382 24,087 23,668 22,957 21,512 21,962 21,385 21,648 22,318 22,328 23,272 24,451 25,631 24,910 25,315 25,273 25,269 24,277 24,394 24,215 24,076 23,075 22,829 22,447 20,815 22,071 20,837 19,962 19,222 Northern Ireland total

Sources (incomplete):

Department of Health, 27 July 2005, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 2004," Department of Health, on line [http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/11/75/74/04117574.pdf].
Department of Health, 30 Oct. 2003, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 2002," Department of Health, on line [http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/08/00/59/04080059.PDF].
Department of Health, 4 July 2006, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 2005," Department of Health, on line [http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/13/68/59/04136859.pdf].
Department of Health, Aug. 2004, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 2003," Department of Health, on line [http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/11/66/26/04116626.pdf].
Department of Health, May 2011, "Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2010," Department of Health, on line [http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_127202.pdf].
Family Planning Association, 2012, "Factsheet: Abortion," FPA, on line [http://www.fpa.org.uk/sites/default/files/northern-ireland-abortion.pdf].
Family Planning Association, Nov. 2015, "Abortion," FPA, on line [http://www.fpa.org.uk/].
Government Statistical Service, 19 June 2007, "Statistical Bulletin: Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2006," Department of Health, on line [http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&dID=142305&Rendition=Web].
Government Statistical Service, June 2008, "Statistical Bulletin: Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2007," Department of Health, on line [http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&dID=142305&Rendition=Web].
Government Statistical Service, May 2009, "Statistical Bulletin: Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2008," Department of Health, on line [http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_099714.pdf].
Government Statistical Service, May 2010, "Statistical Bulletin: Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2009," Department of Health, on line [http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_116336.pdf].
Government Statistical Service, May 2012, "Statistical Bulletin: Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2011," Department of Health, on line [https://www.wp.dh.gov.uk/transparency/files/2012/05/Commentary1.pdf].
Hillen, Jennifer, Sean Mallon, and Siobhan Morgan, 20 Jan. 2022, "Northern Ireland Hospital Based Termination of Pregnancy Statistics 2020/21," Department of Health (Northern Ireland), on line.
Hillen, Jennifer, and Siobhan Morgan, 20 Jan. 2021, "Northern Ireland Hospital Based Termination of Pregnancy Statistics 2019/20," Department of Health (Northern Ireland), on line.
HSC Trusts, 2013, "Northern Ireland termination of pregnancy statistics, 2012/13," Department of Health (Northern Ireland), on line.
Johnston, Wm. Robert, July 2012, "United Kingdom abortions by area," working paper, see "United Kingdom abortions by region," Johnston's Archive, on line [http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/policy/abortion/index.html#UK].
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, 2009, "Live births by sex, 1922 to 2008," NISRA, on line [http://www.nisra.gov.uk/archive/demography/vital/births/live_births1922-2008.xls].
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, Nov. 2009, "Registrar General Northern Ireland Annual Report 2008," NISRA, on line [http://www.nisra.gov.uk/archive/demography/publications/annual_reports/2008/RG2008.pdf].
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, 2011, "Chapter 1: Demographic overview of Northern Ireland," NISRA, on line [http://www.nisra.gov.uk/archive/demography/publications/annual_reports/2010/Chapter1.pdf].
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, 2013, "Table 1.1 Population and vital events, 1926 to 2012," NISRA, on line [http://www.nisra.gov.uk/archive/demography/publications/annual_reports/2012/Table1.1_2012.xls].
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, 2013, "Table 1.2 Births, stillbirths, deaths and marriages," NISRA, on line [http://www.nisra.gov.uk/archive/demography/publications/annual_reports/2012/Table1.2_2012.xls].
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, 21 Nov. 2024, "Table 3.15a Births, general fertility rates and TPFRs by Health and Social Care Trust, 2013 to 2023," NISRA, on line.
Office for National Statistics, 1992, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 1991," National Statistics, on line [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/AB18_1991/ab18_1991.pdf].
Office for National Statistics, 1996, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 1995," National Statistics, on line [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/AB22_1995/ab22_1995.pdf].
Office for National Statistics, 1998, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 1997," National Statistics, on line [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/AB24_1997/ab24_1997.pdf].
Office for National Statistics, 1999, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 1998," National Statistics, on line [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/AB25_1998/ab25_1998.pdf].
Office for National Statistics, 2000, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 1999," National Statistics, on line [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/AB26_1999/ab26_1999.pdf].
Office for National Statistics, 2001, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 2000," National Statistics, on line [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/AB27/AB_No27_V1.pdf].
Office for National Statistics, 2002, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 2001," National Statistics, on line [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/AB28_2001/AB28_2001.pdf].
ProLife Campaign, 2013, "Abortion rate in Northern Ireland", ProLife Campaign, on line [http://prolifecampaign.ie/plc/wp-content/uploads/Northern%20Ireland%20-%20Abortion%20rates%20and%20commentary.pdf].

© 2025 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 3 August 2025.
Return to Home. Return to Other Policy Issues. Return to Abortion Statistics.

area	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	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	2024	area
Belfast																																							16	18	13	9	14	15	13	14	12		7	8		15	528	566	668	793		Belfast
Northern																																							12	12	4	7	12	3	11								293	419	572	610		Northern
South Eastern																																							17	12	15	12	4	13	16								259	385	437	558		South Eastern
Southern																																							10		5	8	9	2	2								283	359	415	523		Southern
Western																																							1		6	0	4	2	8								206	28	76	308		Western
unknown NI resident																																							1	5	0	0	0	0	0	9	2	16	5	4	8	7	5	0	0	0		unknown NI resident
occurring in NI to NI resident																													(35)	(30)	(25)	(40)	(25)	(30)	(25)	(25)	(40)	(45)	57	47	43	36	43	35	50	23	14	16	12	12	8	22	1,574	1,757	2,168	2,792		occurring in NI to NI resident
occurring in NI to non-resident																																							0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	1	0	0	0						occurring in NI to non-resident
total occurring in Northern Ireland																																							57	47	44	36	43	35	51	23	16	16	13	12	8	22	1,574	1,757	2,168	2,792		total occurring in Northern Ireland
occurring in England/Wales to NI resident	36	96	199	648	772	1,003	1,091	1,111	1,142	1,241	1,306	1,418	1,565	1,441	1,510	1,460	1,530	1,637	1,724	1,746	1,815	1,816	1,855	1,775	1,794	1,629	1,678	1,548	1,573	1,572	1,581	1,430	1,528	1,511	1,391	1,318	1,280	1,164	1,295	1,343	1,173	1,123	1,101	1,007	905	802	837	833	724	861	1,053	1,014	371	161	172			occurring in England/Wales to NI resident
occurring in Scotland to NI resident																																		3								2	2									(5)	(5)	(5)	0			occurring in Scotland to NI resident
occurring in Ireland to NI resident																																																				67	36	5	12	9	8	occurring in Ireland to NI resident
total Northern Ireland residents	36	96	199	648	772	1,003	1,091	1,111	1,142	1,241	1,306	1,418	1,565	1,441	1,510	1,460	1,530	1,637	1,724	1,746	1,815	1,816	1,855	1,775	1,794	1,629	1,678	1,548	1,608	1,602	1,606	1,470	1,553	1,544	1,416	1,343	1,320	1,209	1,352	1,390	1,216	1,161	1,146	1,042	955	825	851	849	736	873	1,061	1,108	1,986	1,928	2,352	2,801	8	total Northern Ireland residents

area	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	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	2024	area
Belfast							5,995	5,586	5,479	5,298	5,336	5,869	5,757	5,526	5,478	5,476	5,696	5,802	6,049	5,868	5,967	5,386	5,547	5,662	5,407	5,232	4,923	4,719	4,960	4,759	4,608	4,428	4,153	4,084	3,912	4,054	4,136	4,011	4,147	4,467	4,745	4,690	4,795	4,840	4,934	4,765	4,697	4,646	4,644	4,323	4,425	4,327	3,852	4,317	3,789	3,759		Belfast
Northern							6,535	6,353	6,464	6,119	6,373	6,771	6,885	6,598	6,272	6,425	6,452	6,397	6,592	6,629	6,374	6,181	6,189	6,032	6,064	5,930	5,894	5,759	5,895	5,897	5,774	5,626	5,303	5,413	5,421	5,335	5,697	5,623	5,781	6,021	6,347	5,947	6,110	6,048	5,959	5,870	5,879	5,763	5,740	5,535	5,292	5,384	5,108	5,166	5,032	4,858		Northern
South Eastern							4,435	4,138	4,267	4,206	4,211	4,569	4,752	4,387	4,532	4,363	4,711	4,540	4,536	4,507	4,692	4,406	4,564	4,594	4,463	4,271	4,232	4,233	4,338	4,355	4,323	4,227	3,929	3,995	3,742	3,957	4,069	3,984	4,240	4,528	4,676	4,532	4,514	4,595	4,526	4,355	4,326	4,323	4,234	4,017	4,061	3,900	3,587	3,937	3,693	3,567		South Eastern
Southern							5,096	4,989	4,999	4,880	5,064	5,568	5,544	5,278	5,291	5,405	5,323	5,436	5,409	5,426	5,329	5,072	5,154	5,093	4,875	4,734	4,783	4,629	4,694	4,720	4,628	4,575	4,212	4,556	4,422	4,469	4,682	4,813	5,038	5,362	5,591	5,532	5,712	5,522	5,701	5,367	5,457	5,524	5,516	5,360	5,244	5,150	4,777	4,989	4,936	4,582		Southern
Western							5,099	5,064	5,152	4,934	5,255	5,401	5,644	5,377	5,299	5,357	5,295	5,252	5,389	5,223	5,152	4,786	4,797	4,647	4,545	4,555	4,266	4,353	4,495	4,356	4,335	4,101	3,915	3,914	3,888	3,833	3,734	3,897	4,066	4,073	4,272	4,209	4,184	4,268	4,149	3,920	4,035	3,959	3,942	3,840	3,807	3,686	3,491	3,662	3,387	3,196		Western
Northern Ireland total	33,173	32,428	32,086	31,765	29,994	29,200	27,160	26,130	26,361	25,437	26,239	28,178	28,582	27,166	26,872	27,026	27,477	27,427	27,975	27,653	27,514	25,831	26,251	26,028	25,354	24,722	24,098	23,693	24,382	24,087	23,668	22,957	21,512	21,962	21,385	21,648	22,318	22,328	23,272	24,451	25,631	24,910	25,315	25,273	25,269	24,277	24,394	24,215	24,076	23,075	22,829	22,447	20,815	22,071	20,837	19,962	19,222	Northern Ireland total