From Termination of pregnancy statistics Year ending December 2025 published in Scotland today, the above and:

Following an acceleration in 2022, the rate of increase in demand for termination services has slowed and is the same this year as last, with 17.6 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 years receiving a termination in 2025.

Source: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/termination-of-pregnancy-statistics/termination-of-pregnancy-statistics-year-ending-december-2025/

In England:

Official statistics for terminations of pregnancy (abortions) in England for the year ending December 2025 are not yet available. The UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) publishes annual Abortion statistics for England and Wales. As of May 2026, these are delayed due to backlogs in processing notifications (HSA4 forms), technical issues, and data validation. The latest published data covers 2023 (released in early 2026), with 2024 and 2025 still pending. 2023: Age-standardised abortion rate of 23.0 per 1,000 women aged 15–44 (highest on record)

That 5.4 per 1 000 crude difference (31%) between 23 per 1 000 in England and 17.6 in Scotland is huge in the light of the 280 000 terminations in one year in England and a chilling indicator of how much worse life is, for the most disadvantaged there.

Why do I say that?

 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.

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….

How does Europe compare?

Western/Northern EU countries (e.g., France ~15.7, Sweden ~18, Germany ~5.4, Spain/Portugal/Italy lower at ~5–7.5) tend to have rates in the 10–20+ range per 1,000 women aged 15–44/49.

I know, drug deaths…drug deaths…

England abortion capital of Europe

Sources:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/abortion-statistics-for-england-and-wales-2022/abortion-statistics-england-and-wales-2022

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/abortion-statistics-for-england-and-wales-2023/abortion-statistics-commentary-england-and-wales-2023

https://abortionrights.org.uk/scottish-abortion-statistics-2022/

https://abortionrights.org.uk/abortion-statistics-are-the-canary-in-the-coalmine-for-reproductive-rights/

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/abortion-rates-by-country