The number of abortions in England and Wales surged to a record high in 2022, as new data reveals nearly 30% of all conceptions ended in legal terminations — highlighting growing concerns around access to contraception.
According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 29.7% of conceptions led to abortion in 2022, marking a significant rise from 26.5% the previous year and 20.8% a decade earlier. This equates to 247,703 legal abortions, a 13.1% increase on 2021’s total of 218,923.
Separate statistics released by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) show that a total of 251,377 abortions were carried out for women resident in England and Wales in 2022 — a 17% year-on-year increase and the highest number recorded since the Abortion Act was introduced nearly 60 years ago.
The rise in abortion rates comes amid what campaigners describe as “significant barriers” in accessing contraception across the UK.
Katherine O’Brien, from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), said many women are unable to secure timely appointments or obtain repeat prescriptions, leaving them vulnerable to unplanned pregnancies.
“Women are facing unacceptable delays when trying to access contraception,” she said. “At BPAS, we frequently hear from women who fell pregnant while waiting for a prescription renewal or a coil fitting.”
A BPAS report released last year revealed that 49% of women in the UK encountered obstacles when attempting to access contraception, with lengthy waiting times being one of the most common issues.
O’Brien also highlighted the cost-of-living crisis and rising interest rates as contributing factors, forcing some couples to make difficult decisions regarding pregnancy.
“No woman should have to terminate a pregnancy for purely financial reasons,” she added. “And no one should fall pregnant because the healthcare system has failed to provide timely access to contraception.”
The ONS data also showed stark differences by age group. Girls under 16 had the highest proportion of abortions, with 61% of conceptions in this group ending in termination.
In contrast, women aged 30–34 had the lowest proportion at 20.5%, although they recorded the highest overall number of conceptions at 249,991.
Meanwhile, the conception rate for women aged over 40 was 17.2 per 1,000 — just below the record high of 17.3 per 1,000 recorded in 2021.
O’Brien urged the government to reclassify emergency contraception so it can be sold in more retail outlets, including supermarkets.
“Emergency contraception remains a vastly underused option in the UK,” she said. “Improving access through pharmacies is a step in the right direction, but reclassification is essential to ensure women can obtain it quickly and easily after unprotected sex.”
