Providers and doctors say lack of access to contraception another reason for the 11% rise in procedures in 2023
Hannah Al-Othman
Thu 15 Jan 2026
The rising cost of living and a lack of access to contraception have driven another rise in abortion rates in England and Wales, providers and doctors said.
Government statistics released on Thursday showed that abortions increased by 11% in 2023 compared with the previous year.
The age-standardised abortion rate for women was 23.0 abortions per 1,000 residents, the highest rate since the Abortion Act was introduced in 1967.