Historical abortion statistics, Wales (UK)

Historical abortion statistics, Wales (UK)

compiled by Wm. Robert Johnston
last updated 10 September 2022

Definition of table data:

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

year live births abortions stillbirths abortion ratio abortion %

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

1929 44,595

1930 43,941

1931 42,330

1932 40,873

1933 39,424

1934 39,956

1935 39,187

1936 37,909

1937 37,175

1938 37,625

1939 37,402

1940 39,319

1941 39,886

1942 43,130

1943 43,270

1944 46,730

1945 41,515

1946 47,566

1947 51,163

1948 47,175

1949 44,337 1,288

1950 42,776 1,197

1951 41,270 1,121

1952 41,388 1,192

1953 41,528 1,080

1954 40,256 1,131

1955 38,876 1,131

1956 40,915 1,128

1957 41,645 1,102

1958 42,460 1,141

1959 42,262 1,143

1960 44,147 1,066

1961 44,923 1,030

1962 45,382 1,019

1963 47,038 954

1964 47,502 859

1965 46,292 879

1966 44,866 849

1967 43,706 767

1968 44,207 873 863 149 1,012 669 19.7 22.9 1.94 2.24

1969 43,082 2,187 2,168 362 2,530 666 50.8 58.7 4.83 5.55

1970 42,487 3,176 3,154 681 3,835 637 74.8 90.3 6.96 8.28

1971 43,056 3,693 3,674 1,124 4,798 619 85.8 111.4 7.90 10.03

1972 39,955 3,784 3,758 1,464 5,222 532 94.7 130.7 8.65 11.56

1973 37,597 3,485 3,458 1,658 5,116 492 92.7 136.1 8.48 11.98

1974 36,206 3,344 3,310 1,599 4,909 425 92.4 135.6 8.46 11.94

1975 33,972 2,987 2,951 1,881 4,832 372 87.9 142.2 8.08 12.45

1976 33,378 2,948 2,932 1,933 4,865 360 88.3 145.8 8.12 12.72

1977 31,765 3,105 3,077 1,931 5,008 308 97.7 157.7 8.90 13.62

1978 33,308 3,552 3,407 2,209 5,616 313 106.6 168.6 9.64 14.43

1979 36,174 3,711 3,691 2,518 6,209 307 102.6 171.6 9.30 14.65

1980 37,357 3,542 3,524 2,767 6,291 245 94.8 168.4 8.66 14.41

1981 35,846 3,684 3,662 2,679 6,341 264 102.8 176.9 9.32 15.03

1982 35,720 3,648 3,621 2,481 6,102 205 102.1 170.8 9.27 14.59

1983 35,494 3,609 3,477 2,387 5,864 213 101.7 165.2 9.23 14.18

1984 35,861 3,675 3,623 2,614 6,237 209 102.5 173.9 9.30 14.82

1985 36,771 3,977 3,829 2,768 6,597 214 108.2 179.4 9.76 15.21

1986 37,038 4,146 4,079 2,667 6,746 209 111.9 182.1 10.07 15.41

1987 37,816 4,140 4,061 2,744 6,805 196 109.5 180.0 9.87 15.25

1988 38,824 4,219 4,170 3,209 7,379 186 108.7 190.1 9.80 15.97

1989 38,019 4,254 4,215 3,151 7,366 176 111.9 193.7 10.06 16.23

1990 38,866 4,553 4,440 3,000 7,440 180 117.1 191.4 10.49 16.07

1991 38,079 4,435 4,416 2,771 7,187 177 116.5 188.7 10.43 15.88

1992 37,523 4,289 4,262 2,594 6,856 153 114.3 182.7 10.26 15.45

1993 36,578 4,583 4,554 2,370 6,924 215 125.3 189.3 11.13 15.92

1994 35,366 4,501 4,484 2,291 6,775 209 127.3 191.6 11.29 16.08

1995 34,477 4,354 4,335 2,105 6,440 175 126.3 186.8 11.21 15.74

1996 34,894 4,505 4,489 2,798 7,287 172 129.1 208.8 11.43 17.28

1997 34,520 4,197 4,189 3,199 7,388 176 121.6 214.0 10.84 17.63

1998 33,438 4,347 4,338 3,491 7,829 182 130.0 234.1 11.50 18.97

1999 32,111 4,264 4,256 3,339 7,595 155 132.8 236.5 11.72 19.13

2000 31,304 4,183 4,171 3,348 7,519 145 133.6 240.2 11.79 19.37

2001 30,616 4,112 4,107 3,433 7,540 155 134.3 246.3 11.84 19.76

2002 30,205 7,396 164 244.9 19.67

2003 31,400 7,615 162 242.5 19.52

2004 32,325 7,724 185 238.9 19.29

2005 32,593 7,764 175 238.2 19.24

2006 33,628 8,430 172 250.7 20.04

2007 34,414 8,765 171 254.7 20.30

2008 35,650 9,078 165 254.6 20.30

2009 34,937 8,841 179 253.1 20.20

2010 35,952 8,632 190 240.1 19.36

2011 35,598 8,493 167 238.6 19.26

2012 35,238 8,642 181 245.2 19.69

2013 33,747 8,315 153 246.4 19.77

2014 33,544 8,333 177 248.4 19.90

2015 33,279 8,289 158 249.1 19.94

2016 32,936 8,246 165 250.4 20.02

2017 32,176 8,599 153 267.2 21.09

2018 31,274 9,053 138 289.5 22.45

2019 29,704 9,476 138 319.0 24.19

2020 28,638 9,834 127 343.4 25.56

2021 28,879 10,594 126 366.8 26.84

year live births abortions stillbirths abortion ratio abortion %

occurrences residents only 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	out of area	all to residents	occurrences	all to residents	occurrences	all to residents
1929	44,595
1930	43,941
1931	42,330
1932	40,873
1933	39,424
1934	39,956
1935	39,187
1936	37,909
1937	37,175
1938	37,625
1939	37,402
1940	39,319
1941	39,886
1942	43,130
1943	43,270
1944	46,730
1945	41,515
1946	47,566
1947	51,163
1948	47,175
1949	44,337					1,288
1950	42,776					1,197
1951	41,270					1,121
1952	41,388					1,192
1953	41,528					1,080
1954	40,256					1,131
1955	38,876					1,131
1956	40,915					1,128
1957	41,645					1,102
1958	42,460					1,141
1959	42,262					1,143
1960	44,147					1,066
1961	44,923					1,030
1962	45,382					1,019
1963	47,038					954
1964	47,502					859
1965	46,292					879
1966	44,866					849
1967	43,706					767
1968	44,207	873	863	149	1,012	669	19.7	22.9	1.94	2.24
1969	43,082	2,187	2,168	362	2,530	666	50.8	58.7	4.83	5.55
1970	42,487	3,176	3,154	681	3,835	637	74.8	90.3	6.96	8.28
1971	43,056	3,693	3,674	1,124	4,798	619	85.8	111.4	7.90	10.03
1972	39,955	3,784	3,758	1,464	5,222	532	94.7	130.7	8.65	11.56
1973	37,597	3,485	3,458	1,658	5,116	492	92.7	136.1	8.48	11.98
1974	36,206	3,344	3,310	1,599	4,909	425	92.4	135.6	8.46	11.94
1975	33,972	2,987	2,951	1,881	4,832	372	87.9	142.2	8.08	12.45
1976	33,378	2,948	2,932	1,933	4,865	360	88.3	145.8	8.12	12.72
1977	31,765	3,105	3,077	1,931	5,008	308	97.7	157.7	8.90	13.62
1978	33,308	3,552	3,407	2,209	5,616	313	106.6	168.6	9.64	14.43
1979	36,174	3,711	3,691	2,518	6,209	307	102.6	171.6	9.30	14.65
1980	37,357	3,542	3,524	2,767	6,291	245	94.8	168.4	8.66	14.41
1981	35,846	3,684	3,662	2,679	6,341	264	102.8	176.9	9.32	15.03
1982	35,720	3,648	3,621	2,481	6,102	205	102.1	170.8	9.27	14.59
1983	35,494	3,609	3,477	2,387	5,864	213	101.7	165.2	9.23	14.18
1984	35,861	3,675	3,623	2,614	6,237	209	102.5	173.9	9.30	14.82
1985	36,771	3,977	3,829	2,768	6,597	214	108.2	179.4	9.76	15.21
1986	37,038	4,146	4,079	2,667	6,746	209	111.9	182.1	10.07	15.41
1987	37,816	4,140	4,061	2,744	6,805	196	109.5	180.0	9.87	15.25
1988	38,824	4,219	4,170	3,209	7,379	186	108.7	190.1	9.80	15.97
1989	38,019	4,254	4,215	3,151	7,366	176	111.9	193.7	10.06	16.23
1990	38,866	4,553	4,440	3,000	7,440	180	117.1	191.4	10.49	16.07
1991	38,079	4,435	4,416	2,771	7,187	177	116.5	188.7	10.43	15.88
1992	37,523	4,289	4,262	2,594	6,856	153	114.3	182.7	10.26	15.45
1993	36,578	4,583	4,554	2,370	6,924	215	125.3	189.3	11.13	15.92
1994	35,366	4,501	4,484	2,291	6,775	209	127.3	191.6	11.29	16.08
1995	34,477	4,354	4,335	2,105	6,440	175	126.3	186.8	11.21	15.74
1996	34,894	4,505	4,489	2,798	7,287	172	129.1	208.8	11.43	17.28
1997	34,520	4,197	4,189	3,199	7,388	176	121.6	214.0	10.84	17.63
1998	33,438	4,347	4,338	3,491	7,829	182	130.0	234.1	11.50	18.97
1999	32,111	4,264	4,256	3,339	7,595	155	132.8	236.5	11.72	19.13
2000	31,304	4,183	4,171	3,348	7,519	145	133.6	240.2	11.79	19.37
2001	30,616	4,112	4,107	3,433	7,540	155	134.3	246.3	11.84	19.76
2002	30,205				7,396	164		244.9		19.67
2003	31,400				7,615	162		242.5		19.52
2004	32,325				7,724	185		238.9		19.29
2005	32,593				7,764	175		238.2		19.24
2006	33,628				8,430	172		250.7		20.04
2007	34,414				8,765	171		254.7		20.30
2008	35,650				9,078	165		254.6		20.30
2009	34,937				8,841	179		253.1		20.20
2010	35,952				8,632	190		240.1		19.36
2011	35,598				8,493	167		238.6		19.26
2012	35,238				8,642	181		245.2		19.69
2013	33,747				8,315	153		246.4		19.77
2014	33,544				8,333	177		248.4		19.90
2015	33,279				8,289	158		249.1		19.94
2016	32,936				8,246	165		250.4		20.02
2017	32,176				8,599	153		267.2		21.09
2018	31,274				9,053	138		289.5		22.45
2019	29,704				9,476	138		319.0		24.19
2020	28,638				9,834	127		343.4		25.56
2021	28,879				10,594	126		366.8		26.84
year	live births	abortions	stillbirths	abortion ratio	abortion %
occurrences	residents only	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 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].
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].
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, 1993, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 1992," National Statistics, on line [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/AB19_1992/ab19_1992.pdf].
Office for National Statistics, 1994, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 1993," National Statistics, on line [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/AB20_1993/ab20_1993.pdf].
Office for National Statistics, 1995, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 1994," National Statistics, on line [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/AB21_1994/ab21_1994.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, 1997, "Abortion Statistics: Legal abortions carried out under the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales, 1996," National Statistics, on line [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/AB23_1996/ab23_1996.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].
Office for National Statistics, 2009, "Review of the National Statistician on births and patterns of family building in England and Wales, 2008," Office for National Statistics, on line [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/FM1-37/FM1_37_2008.pdf].
Office for National Statistics, 16 Sept. 2010, "Live births by usual area of residence, 2009, Office for National Statistics, on line http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/births-by-area-of-usual-residence-of-mother--england-and-wales/2009/live-births-by-usual-area-of-residence-2009.xls].
Office for National Statistics, 15 Sept. 2011, "Live births by usual area of residence, 2010, Office for National Statistics, on line [http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/births-by-area-of-usual-residence-of-mother--england-and-wales/2010/rft-area-2010.xls]
StatsWales, 2009, "Live births by age of mother, Wales (year)," StatsWales, on line [http://www.statswales.wales.gov.uk/TableViewer/tableView.aspx?ReportId=4276].
StatsWales, 2009, "Stillbirths by age of mother (year, age group, number/rate)," StatsWales, on line [http://www.statswales.wales.gov.uk/TableViewer/tableView.aspx?ReportId=3379].
Welsh Government, 27 Aug. 1998, "Digest of Welsh historical statistics 1974 to 1996: Chapter 1--population," Welsh Government, on line [https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/statistics-and-research/2018-12/980827-historical-1974-1996-chapter-1-en.pdf].
Welsh Government, 18 Jan. 2012, "Health trends in Wales 2011--Raw data," The National Archives, on line [https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20150402175444/http://gov.wales/statistics-and-research/health-trends-wales/?lang=en].

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