From Public Health Scotland – Scottish pregnancy, births and neonatal data dashboard
A new home for maternity and neonatal data visualisations, published today:

In 2024 there was a slowing of the rate of increase in the number of terminations undertaken in Scotland. There were 3% more terminations undertaken: 18,710 compared to 18,242 in 2023. This compares to a 10% increase in demand on services in 2023.¹

The termination rate is 17.9 per 1 000 women.

The rate in England & Wales will shock. 20324 data has been delayed but in 2023 it was 23 per 1 000, up from 21.1 the previous year.²

That’s a 28.4% difference. In Scottish terms, 4 000 fewer terminations than had these women lived lived in England.

Why are termination data so important? What do they tell us?

From Abortion Rights in 2019:

Abortion statistics are the canary in the coalmine for reproductive rights. The warning signs are here, women’s reproductive healthcare is paying a high price under the government’s austerity measures. Our ability to choose means nothing in practice if services are cut and waiting times are increased.³

What could account for this difference in thousands of abortions avoided in Scotland?

Shorter waiting lists, more midwives, more home visitors, the Child Payment, more affordable housing….

I know, drug deaths…drug deaths…

England, abortion capital of…..?

Sources:

1. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/scottish-pregnancy-births-and-neonatal-data-dashboard/scottish-pregnancy-births-and-neonatal-data-dashboard-a-new-home-for-maternity-and-neonatal-data-visualisations-20-january-2026
2. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/abortion-statistics-for-england-and-wales-2023
3. https://abortionrights.org.uk/abortion-statistics-are-the-canary-in-the-coalmine-for-reproductive-rights/