Historical abortion statistics, Scotland (UK)

Historical abortion statistics, Scotland (UK)

compiled by Wm. Robert Johnston
last updated 10 September 2022

Definition of table data:

Abortions, occurrences include all abortions performed in Scotland.
Abortions, residents only include abortions performed in Scotland to Scotland residents.
Abortions, nonresidents include abortions performed in Scotland to nonresidents.
Abortions, out of area include abortions obtained by Scotland residents elsewhere in the UK.
Abortions, all to residents include all abortions obtained by Scotland residents.
Fetal deaths primarily includes stillbirths.

year live births abortions stillbirths abortion ratio abortion %

occurrences residents only nonresidents out of area all to residents occurrences all to residents occurrences all to residents

1929 92,880

1930 94,549

1931 92,220

1932 91,000

1933 86,546

1934 88,836

1935 87,928

1936 88,928

1937 87,810

1938 88,627

1939 86,913 3,832

1940 86,392 3,799

1941 89,748 3,698

1942 90,703 3,602

1943 94,669 3,494

1944 95,920 3,221

1945 86,924 2,949

1946 104,413 3,483

1947 113,147 3,563

1948 100,344 2,966

1949 95,674 2,666

1950 92,530 2,557

1951 90,639 2,479

1952 90,422 2,430

1953 90,913 2,308

1954 92,315 2,401

1955 92,539 2,330

1956 95,313 2,329

1957 97,977 2,378

1958 99,481 2,324

1959 99,251 2,252

1960 101,292 2,252

1961 101,169 2,147

1962 104,334 2,122

1963 102,691 1,997

1964 104,355 1,900

1965 100,660 1,835

1966 96,536 1,589

1967 96,221 1,544

1968 94,786 1,544 1,537 7 65 1,602 1,425 16.3 16.9 1.60 1.66

1969 90,290 3,556 3,531 25 173 3,704 1,283 39.4 41.0 3.79 3.94

1970 87,335 5,254 5,236 18 309 5,545 1,234 60.2 63.5 5.67 5.97

1971 86,728 6,333 6,305 28 524 6,829 1,155 73.0 78.7 6.81 7.30

1972 78,550 7,609 7,586 23 835 8,421 1,053 96.9 107.2 8.83 9.68

1973 74,392 7,542 7,521 21 1,068 8,589 873 101.4 115.5 9.20 10.35

1974 70,093 7,568 7,561 7 1,026 8,587 850 108.0 122.5 9.74 10.91

1975 67,943 7,327 7,289 38 1,054 8,343 765 107.8 122.8 9.73 10.94

1976 64,895 7,219 7,114 105 950 8,064 629 111.2 124.3 10.01 11.05

1977 62,342 7,334 7,177 157 840 8,017 553 117.6 128.6 10.53 11.39

1978 64,295 7,451 7,351 100 976 8,327 524 115.9 129.5 10.39 11.47

1979 68,366 7,784 7,698 86 1,028 8,726 475 113.9 127.6 10.22 11.32

1980 68,892 7,905 7,877 28 1,179 9,056 463 114.7 131.5 10.29 11.62

1981 69,054 9,007 8,979 28 998 9,977 436 130.4 144.5 11.54 12.62

1982 66,196 8,425 8,393 32 898 9,291 386 127.3 140.4 11.29 12.31

1983 65,078 8,459 8,446 13 800 9,246 379 130.0 142.1 11.50 12.44

1984 65,106 9,155 9,141 14 781 9,922 379 140.6 152.4 12.33 13.22

1985 66,676 9,189 9,174 15 728 9,902 366 137.8 148.5 12.11 12.93

1986 65,812 9,628 9,611 17 751 10,362 385 146.3 157.4 12.76 13.60

1987 66,241 9,460 9,449 11 742 10,191 339 142.8 153.8 12.50 13.33

1988 66,212 10,128 10,111 17 851 10,962 357 153.0 165.6 13.27 14.20

1989 63,480 10,209 10,191 18 788 10,979 319 160.8 173.0 13.85 14.75

1990 65,973 10,219 10,198 21 784 10,982 349 154.9 166.5 13.41 14.27

1991 67,024 11,068 11,046 22 712 11,758 369 165.1 175.4 14.17 14.92

1992 65,789 10,818 10,791 27 573 11,364 356 164.4 172.7 14.12 14.73

1993 63,337 11,076 11,059 17 441 11,500 409 174.9 181.6 14.88 15.37

1994 61,656 11,392 11,371 21 363 11,734 381 184.8 190.3 15.60 15.99

1995 60,051 11,143 11,131 12 291 11,422 397 185.6 190.2 15.65 15.98

1996 59,296 11,978 11,957 21 329 12,286 381 202.0 207.2 16.81 17.16

1997 59,440 12,109 12,087 22 322 12,409 319 203.7 208.8 16.92 17.27

1998 57,319 12,485 12,458 27 377 12,835 351 217.8 223.9 17.89 18.30

1999 55,147 12,168 12,145 23 343 12,488 286 220.6 226.4 18.08 18.46

2000 53,076 11,997 11,976 21 345 12,321 298 226.0 232.1 18.44 18.84

2001 52,527 12,128 12,108 20 337 12,445 301 230.9 236.9 18.76 19.15

2002 51,270 11,870 11,840 30 337 12,177 278 231.5 237.5 18.80 19.19

2003 52,432 12,308 12,269 39 366 12,635 296 234.7 241.0 19.01 19.42

2004 53,957 12,462 12,421 41 357 12,778 317 231.0 236.8 18.76 19.15

2005 54,386 12,665 12,625 40 310 12,935 292 232.9 237.8 18.89 19.21

2006 55,690 13,167 13,131 36 362 13,493 296 236.4 242.3 19.12 19.50

2007 57,781 13,778 13,733 45 377 14,110 327 238.5 244.2 19.25 19.63

2008 60,041 13,908 13,872 36 297 14,169 325 231.6 236.0 18.81 19.09

2009 59,046 13,112 13,074 38 276 13,350 317 222.1 226.1 18.17 18.44

2010 58,791 12,949 12,929 20 254 13,183 291 220.3 224.2 18.05 18.32

2011 58,590 12,558 12,532 26 233 12,765 299 214.3 217.9 17.65 17.89

2012 58,027 12,578 12,543 35 212 12,755 274 216.8 219.8 17.81 18.02

2013 56,014 11,954 11,926 28 182 12,108 234 213.4 216.2 17.59 17.77

2014 56,725 11,787 11,772 15 162 11,934 228 207.8 210.4 17.20 17.38

2015 55,098 12,153 12,137 16 174 12,311 211 220.6 223.4 18.07 18.26

2016 54,488 12,133 12,127 6 181 12,308 236 222.7 225.9 18.21 18.43

2017 52,861 12,546 12,532 14 192 12,724 225 237.3 240.7 19.18 19.40

2018 51,308 13,358 13,346 12 171 13,517 190 260.3 263.4 20.66 20.85

2019 49,863 13,610 13,596 14 179 13,775 174 272.9 276.3 21.44 21.65

2020 46,809 13,896 13,891 5 123 14,014 198 296.9 299.4 22.89 23.04

2021 47,786 13,758 13,750 8 150 13,900 180 287.9 290.9 22.35 22.53

year live births abortions stillbirths abortion ratio abortion %

occurrences residents only nonresidents out of area all to residents occurrences all to residents occurrences all to residents

year	live births	abortions	stillbirths	abortion ratio	abortion %
occurrences	residents only	nonresidents	out of area	all to residents	occurrences	all to residents	occurrences	all to residents
1929	92,880
1930	94,549
1931	92,220
1932	91,000
1933	86,546
1934	88,836
1935	87,928
1936	88,928
1937	87,810
1938	88,627
1939	86,913						3,832
1940	86,392						3,799
1941	89,748						3,698
1942	90,703						3,602
1943	94,669						3,494
1944	95,920						3,221
1945	86,924						2,949
1946	104,413						3,483
1947	113,147						3,563
1948	100,344						2,966
1949	95,674						2,666
1950	92,530						2,557
1951	90,639						2,479
1952	90,422						2,430
1953	90,913						2,308
1954	92,315						2,401
1955	92,539						2,330
1956	95,313						2,329
1957	97,977						2,378
1958	99,481						2,324
1959	99,251						2,252
1960	101,292						2,252
1961	101,169						2,147
1962	104,334						2,122
1963	102,691						1,997
1964	104,355						1,900
1965	100,660						1,835
1966	96,536						1,589
1967	96,221						1,544
1968	94,786	1,544	1,537	7	65	1,602	1,425	16.3	16.9	1.60	1.66
1969	90,290	3,556	3,531	25	173	3,704	1,283	39.4	41.0	3.79	3.94
1970	87,335	5,254	5,236	18	309	5,545	1,234	60.2	63.5	5.67	5.97
1971	86,728	6,333	6,305	28	524	6,829	1,155	73.0	78.7	6.81	7.30
1972	78,550	7,609	7,586	23	835	8,421	1,053	96.9	107.2	8.83	9.68
1973	74,392	7,542	7,521	21	1,068	8,589	873	101.4	115.5	9.20	10.35
1974	70,093	7,568	7,561	7	1,026	8,587	850	108.0	122.5	9.74	10.91
1975	67,943	7,327	7,289	38	1,054	8,343	765	107.8	122.8	9.73	10.94
1976	64,895	7,219	7,114	105	950	8,064	629	111.2	124.3	10.01	11.05
1977	62,342	7,334	7,177	157	840	8,017	553	117.6	128.6	10.53	11.39
1978	64,295	7,451	7,351	100	976	8,327	524	115.9	129.5	10.39	11.47
1979	68,366	7,784	7,698	86	1,028	8,726	475	113.9	127.6	10.22	11.32
1980	68,892	7,905	7,877	28	1,179	9,056	463	114.7	131.5	10.29	11.62
1981	69,054	9,007	8,979	28	998	9,977	436	130.4	144.5	11.54	12.62
1982	66,196	8,425	8,393	32	898	9,291	386	127.3	140.4	11.29	12.31
1983	65,078	8,459	8,446	13	800	9,246	379	130.0	142.1	11.50	12.44
1984	65,106	9,155	9,141	14	781	9,922	379	140.6	152.4	12.33	13.22
1985	66,676	9,189	9,174	15	728	9,902	366	137.8	148.5	12.11	12.93
1986	65,812	9,628	9,611	17	751	10,362	385	146.3	157.4	12.76	13.60
1987	66,241	9,460	9,449	11	742	10,191	339	142.8	153.8	12.50	13.33
1988	66,212	10,128	10,111	17	851	10,962	357	153.0	165.6	13.27	14.20
1989	63,480	10,209	10,191	18	788	10,979	319	160.8	173.0	13.85	14.75
1990	65,973	10,219	10,198	21	784	10,982	349	154.9	166.5	13.41	14.27
1991	67,024	11,068	11,046	22	712	11,758	369	165.1	175.4	14.17	14.92
1992	65,789	10,818	10,791	27	573	11,364	356	164.4	172.7	14.12	14.73
1993	63,337	11,076	11,059	17	441	11,500	409	174.9	181.6	14.88	15.37
1994	61,656	11,392	11,371	21	363	11,734	381	184.8	190.3	15.60	15.99
1995	60,051	11,143	11,131	12	291	11,422	397	185.6	190.2	15.65	15.98
1996	59,296	11,978	11,957	21	329	12,286	381	202.0	207.2	16.81	17.16
1997	59,440	12,109	12,087	22	322	12,409	319	203.7	208.8	16.92	17.27
1998	57,319	12,485	12,458	27	377	12,835	351	217.8	223.9	17.89	18.30
1999	55,147	12,168	12,145	23	343	12,488	286	220.6	226.4	18.08	18.46
2000	53,076	11,997	11,976	21	345	12,321	298	226.0	232.1	18.44	18.84
2001	52,527	12,128	12,108	20	337	12,445	301	230.9	236.9	18.76	19.15
2002	51,270	11,870	11,840	30	337	12,177	278	231.5	237.5	18.80	19.19
2003	52,432	12,308	12,269	39	366	12,635	296	234.7	241.0	19.01	19.42
2004	53,957	12,462	12,421	41	357	12,778	317	231.0	236.8	18.76	19.15
2005	54,386	12,665	12,625	40	310	12,935	292	232.9	237.8	18.89	19.21
2006	55,690	13,167	13,131	36	362	13,493	296	236.4	242.3	19.12	19.50
2007	57,781	13,778	13,733	45	377	14,110	327	238.5	244.2	19.25	19.63
2008	60,041	13,908	13,872	36	297	14,169	325	231.6	236.0	18.81	19.09
2009	59,046	13,112	13,074	38	276	13,350	317	222.1	226.1	18.17	18.44
2010	58,791	12,949	12,929	20	254	13,183	291	220.3	224.2	18.05	18.32
2011	58,590	12,558	12,532	26	233	12,765	299	214.3	217.9	17.65	17.89
2012	58,027	12,578	12,543	35	212	12,755	274	216.8	219.8	17.81	18.02
2013	56,014	11,954	11,926	28	182	12,108	234	213.4	216.2	17.59	17.77
2014	56,725	11,787	11,772	15	162	11,934	228	207.8	210.4	17.20	17.38
2015	55,098	12,153	12,137	16	174	12,311	211	220.6	223.4	18.07	18.26
2016	54,488	12,133	12,127	6	181	12,308	236	222.7	225.9	18.21	18.43
2017	52,861	12,546	12,532	14	192	12,724	225	237.3	240.7	19.18	19.40
2018	51,308	13,358	13,346	12	171	13,517	190	260.3	263.4	20.66	20.85
2019	49,863	13,610	13,596	14	179	13,775	174	272.9	276.3	21.44	21.65
2020	46,809	13,896	13,891	5	123	14,014	198	296.9	299.4	22.89	23.04
2021	47,786	13,758	13,750	8	150	13,900	180	287.9	290.9	22.35	22.53
year	live births	abortions	stillbirths	abortion ratio	abortion %
occurrences	residents only	nonresidents	out of area	all to residents	occurrences	all to residents	occurrences	all to residents

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 carri ed 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].
General Register Office for Scotland, 2009, "Table 4.1: Live births, stillbirths, perinatal, neonatal, postneonatal and infant deaths, Scotland, 1946 to 2008," General Register Office for Scotland, on line [http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files2/stats/vital-events-ref-tables-2008/ve-2008-t4-1.pdf].
General Register Office for Scotland, 7 Aug. 2009, "Births, by sex, Scotland, 1945 to 2008," General Register Office for Scotland, on line [http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files2/stats/time-series/births-1855-2008-by-sex.xls].
General Register Office for Scotland, 2011, "Table 4.1: Live births, stillbirths, perinatal, neonatal, postneonatal and infant deaths, Scotland, 1946 to 2010," General Register Office for Scotland, on line [http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files2/stats/ve-reftables-2010/ve10-t4-1.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].
ISD Scotland, 2009, "Abortions performed in Scotland and on Scottish residents in England & Wales," ISD Scotland, on line [http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=mat_aas_table607.xls&pContentDispositionType=inline].
ISD Scotland, 31 May 2011, "Abortion statistics year ending 31 December 2010," ISD Scotland, on line [http://www.isdscotland.scot.nhs.uk/Health-Topics/Sexual-Health/Publications/2011-05-31/2011-05-31-Abortions-Summary.pdf?92754763365].
ISD Scotland, 29 May 2012, "Abortion statistics year ending 31 December 2011," ISD Scotland, on line [http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Sexual-Health/Publications/2012-05-29/2012-05-29-Abortions-Report-2011.pdf?92843264342].
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].
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].

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