Historical abortion statistics, Northern Ireland (UK)

Historical abortion statistics, Northern Ireland (UK)

compiled by Wm. Robert Johnston
last updated 10 September 2022

Definition of table data:

Abortions, out of area include abortions obtained by Northern Ireland residents elsewhere in the UK.
Fetal deaths primarily includes stillbirths.

year live births abortions stillbirths abortion ratio abortion %

in area out of area residents, all areas occurrences all to residents occurrences all to residents

1929 25,410

1930 25,879

1931 25,673

1932 25,107

1933 24,601

1934 25,365

1935 24,742

1936 25,909

1937 25,412

1938 25,742

1939 25,240

1940 25,363

1941 26,887

1942 29,645

1943 31,521

1944 30,900

1945 29,007

1946 30,134

1947 31,254

1948 29,532

1949 29,106

1950 28,794

1951 28,477

1952 28,760

1953 28,984

1954 28,803

1955 28,965

1956 29,489

1957 30,108

1958 30,301

1959 30,809

1960 31,989

1961 31,915

1962 32,565

1963 33,414

1964 34,345

1965 33,890

1966 33,228

1967 33,415

1968 33,173 36 36 1.1 0.11

1969 32,428 96 96 3.0 0.30

1970 32,086 199 199 6.2 0.62

1971 31,765 648 648 462 20.4 2.00

1972 29,994 772 772 434 25.7 2.51

1973 29,200 1,003 1,003 389 34.3 3.32

1974 27,160 1,091 1,091 374 40.2 3.86

1975 26,130 1,111 1,111 375 42.5 4.08

1976 26,361 1,142 1,142 278 43.3 4.15

1977 25,437 1,241 1,241 310 48.8 4.65

1978 26,239 1,306 1,306 243 49.8 4.74

1979 28,178 1,418 1,418 246 50.3 4.79

1980 28,582 1,565 1,565 266 54.8 5.19

1981 27,166 1,443 1,443 240 53.1 5.04

1982 26,872 1,510 1,510 187 56.2 5.32

1983 27,026 1,460 1,460 204 54.0 5.13

1984 27,477 1,530 1,530 161 55.7 5.27

1985 27,427 1,637 1,637 178 59.7 5.63

1986 27,975 1,724 1,724 125 61.6 5.80

1987 27,653 1,746 1,746 170 63.1 5.94

1988 27,514 1,815 1,815 137 66.0 6.19

1989 25,831 1,816 1,816 133 70.3 6.57

1990 26,251 1,855 1,855 115 70.7 6.60

1991 26,028 1,778 1,778 123 68.3 6.39

1992 25,354 1,794 1,794 124 70.8 6.61

1993 24,722 1,629 1,629 128 65.9 6.18

1994 24,098 1,678 1,678 153 69.6 6.51

1995 23,693 1,548 1,548 145 65.3 6.13

1996 24,382 85 1,573 1,658 153 3.5 68.0 0.35 6.37

1997 24,087 79 1,572 1,651 131 3.3 68.5 0.33 6.41

1998 23,668 71 1,581 1,652 122 3.0 69.8 0.30 6.52

1999 22,957 83 1,430 1,513 132 3.6 65.9 0.36 6.18

2000 21,512 71 1,528 1,599 93 3.3 74.3 0.33 6.92

2001 21,962 76 1,580 1,656 112 3.5 75.4 0.34 7.01

2002 21,385 67 1,391 1,458 122 3.1 68.2 0.31 6.38

2003 21,648 64 1,318 1,382 108 3.0 63.8 0.29 6.00

2004 22,318 80 1,280 1,360 113 3.6 60.9 0.36 5.74

2005 22,328 79 1,164 1,243 89 3.5 55.7 0.35 5.27

2006 23,272 91 1,295 1,386 89 3.9 59.6 0.39 5.62

2007 24,451 78 1,343 1,421 102 3.2 58.1 0.32 5.49

2008 25,631 68 1,173 1,240 115 2.7 48.4 0.26 4.61

2009 24,910 75 1,125 1,200 119 3.0 48.2 0.30 4.60

2010 25,315 74 1,103 1,177 105 2.9 46.5 0.29 4.44

2011 25,273 38 1,007 1,045 91 1.5 41.3 0.15 3.97

2012 25,269 45 905 950 106 1.8 37.6 0.18 3.62

2013 24,277 32 802 834 110 1.3 34.4 0.13 3.32

2014 24,394 17 837 854 81 0.7 35.0 0.07 3.38

2015 24,215 16 833 849 76 0.7 35.1 0.07 3.39

2016 24,076 12 724 736 82 0.5 30.6 0.05 2.97

2017 23,075 12 861 873 102 0.5 37.8 0.05 3.65

2018 22,829 8 1,053 1,061 79 0.4 46.5 0.04 4.44

2019 22,447 22 1,081 1,103 67 1.0 49.1 0.10 4.68

2020 21,441 63 407 470 69 2.9 21.9 0.29 2.15

2021 21,893 161 161 7.4 0.73

year live births abortions stillbirths abortion ratio abortion %

in area out of area residents, all areas occurrences all to residents occurrences all to residents

year	live births	abortions	stillbirths	abortion ratio	abortion %
in area	out of area	residents, all areas	occurrences	all to residents	occurrences	all to residents
1929	25,410
1930	25,879
1931	25,673
1932	25,107
1933	24,601
1934	25,365
1935	24,742
1936	25,909
1937	25,412
1938	25,742
1939	25,240
1940	25,363
1941	26,887
1942	29,645
1943	31,521
1944	30,900
1945	29,007
1946	30,134
1947	31,254
1948	29,532
1949	29,106
1950	28,794
1951	28,477
1952	28,760
1953	28,984
1954	28,803
1955	28,965
1956	29,489
1957	30,108
1958	30,301
1959	30,809
1960	31,989
1961	31,915
1962	32,565
1963	33,414
1964	34,345
1965	33,890
1966	33,228
1967	33,415
1968	33,173		36	36			1.1		0.11
1969	32,428		96	96			3.0		0.30
1970	32,086		199	199			6.2		0.62
1971	31,765		648	648	462		20.4		2.00
1972	29,994		772	772	434		25.7		2.51
1973	29,200		1,003	1,003	389		34.3		3.32
1974	27,160		1,091	1,091	374		40.2		3.86
1975	26,130		1,111	1,111	375		42.5		4.08
1976	26,361		1,142	1,142	278		43.3		4.15
1977	25,437		1,241	1,241	310		48.8		4.65
1978	26,239		1,306	1,306	243		49.8		4.74
1979	28,178		1,418	1,418	246		50.3		4.79
1980	28,582		1,565	1,565	266		54.8		5.19
1981	27,166		1,443	1,443	240		53.1		5.04
1982	26,872		1,510	1,510	187		56.2		5.32
1983	27,026		1,460	1,460	204		54.0		5.13
1984	27,477		1,530	1,530	161		55.7		5.27
1985	27,427		1,637	1,637	178		59.7		5.63
1986	27,975		1,724	1,724	125		61.6		5.80
1987	27,653		1,746	1,746	170		63.1		5.94
1988	27,514		1,815	1,815	137		66.0		6.19
1989	25,831		1,816	1,816	133		70.3		6.57
1990	26,251		1,855	1,855	115		70.7		6.60
1991	26,028		1,778	1,778	123		68.3		6.39
1992	25,354		1,794	1,794	124		70.8		6.61
1993	24,722		1,629	1,629	128		65.9		6.18
1994	24,098		1,678	1,678	153		69.6		6.51
1995	23,693		1,548	1,548	145		65.3		6.13
1996	24,382	85	1,573	1,658	153	3.5	68.0	0.35	6.37
1997	24,087	79	1,572	1,651	131	3.3	68.5	0.33	6.41
1998	23,668	71	1,581	1,652	122	3.0	69.8	0.30	6.52
1999	22,957	83	1,430	1,513	132	3.6	65.9	0.36	6.18
2000	21,512	71	1,528	1,599	93	3.3	74.3	0.33	6.92
2001	21,962	76	1,580	1,656	112	3.5	75.4	0.34	7.01
2002	21,385	67	1,391	1,458	122	3.1	68.2	0.31	6.38
2003	21,648	64	1,318	1,382	108	3.0	63.8	0.29	6.00
2004	22,318	80	1,280	1,360	113	3.6	60.9	0.36	5.74
2005	22,328	79	1,164	1,243	89	3.5	55.7	0.35	5.27
2006	23,272	91	1,295	1,386	89	3.9	59.6	0.39	5.62
2007	24,451	78	1,343	1,421	102	3.2	58.1	0.32	5.49
2008	25,631	68	1,173	1,240	115	2.7	48.4	0.26	4.61
2009	24,910	75	1,125	1,200	119	3.0	48.2	0.30	4.60
2010	25,315	74	1,103	1,177	105	2.9	46.5	0.29	4.44
2011	25,273	38	1,007	1,045	91	1.5	41.3	0.15	3.97
2012	25,269	45	905	950	106	1.8	37.6	0.18	3.62
2013	24,277	32	802	834	110	1.3	34.4	0.13	3.32
2014	24,394	17	837	854	81	0.7	35.0	0.07	3.38
2015	24,215	16	833	849	76	0.7	35.1	0.07	3.39
2016	24,076	12	724	736	82	0.5	30.6	0.05	2.97
2017	23,075	12	861	873	102	0.5	37.8	0.05	3.65
2018	22,829	8	1,053	1,061	79	0.4	46.5	0.04	4.44
2019	22,447	22	1,081	1,103	67	1.0	49.1	0.10	4.68
2020	21,441	63	407	470	69	2.9	21.9	0.29	2.15
2021	21,893		161	161			7.4		0.73
year	live births	abortions	stillbirths	abortion ratio	abortion %
in area	out of area	residents, all areas	occurrences	all to residents	occurrences	all to residents

Sources (incomplete):

Calhoun, Byron C., John M. Thorp, and Patrick S. Carroll, 2013, "Maternal and neonatal health and abortion: 40-year trends in Great Britain and Ireland," Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, 18(2):42-46, available at JPANDS [http://www.jpands.org/vol18no2/calhoun.pdf].
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].
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].
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].
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].
U.K. Parliament, 19 April 2006, "Abortion," Parliament, on line [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060419/text/60419w22.htm].

© 2000-2021, 2022 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 10 September 2022.
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