The RCOG has responded to the latest Department of Health and Social Care Abortion statistics, England and Wales: 2023.
The data shows:
- There were 277,970 abortions for residents of England and Wales in 2023, 11% higher than in 2022.
- The number of abortions performed at 2 to 9 weeks’ gestation increased from 2022 to 248,250, accounting for 89% of the total.
- Medical abortions made up 87% of all abortions.
- Taking both medications at home remained the most common method of abortion, accounting for 72% of abortions (200,745) in 2023.
- The rate of abortions resulting in at least one complication, as recorded on the HSA4 form up to the time of discharge, remained similar compared with 2022, falling from 1.2 to 1.1 per 1,000 abortions.
Dr Alison Wright, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said:
“This new data highlights how access to high-quality abortion care is essential for women’s health and reproductive autonomy.
“There is likely to be a range of factors behind the rise in abortion rates over recent years. Economic pressure and the rising cost of living are shaping women’s reproductive choices, with many choosing to delay or have smaller families. At the same time, overstretched GP and sexual health services are making it harder for many women - particularly in more deprived communities - to access contraception when they need it, increasing the risk of unplanned pregnancy.
“Taking both medications at home remains the most common method of abortion, indicating that the telemedicine pathway is working as intended by enabling women to access safe, regulated care earlier. Telemedicine removes practical barriers for women who may otherwise struggle to attend in-person appointments, including those in rural areas, women with disabilities, and those experiencing coercion or abuse.”
The renewed ‘Women’s Health Strategy’ must include a clear, funded plan to improve contraception and abortion provision in England - making sexual and reproductive health a system-wide priority, tackling inequalities in access, and addressing the wider social factors that shape women’s reproductive choices.
Abortion is an integral and essential component of women’s health care. In 2025, MPs sent a clear message, reflecting public opinion, that women’s reproductive rights matter and that abortion is not a crime. The RCOG now urges the House of Lords to back the vital amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill to decriminalise abortion.
Without support from Peers, women will remain at risk of years-long investigations, criminal charges and custodial sentences for ending their own pregnancy.
- Access the new DHSC data here: Abortion statistics commentary, England and Wales: 2023 - GOV.UK
- Read more about the College’s calls for the renewed Women’s Health Strategy here: https://www.rcog.org.uk/about-us/campaigning-and-opinions/rcog-priorities-for-the-refreshed-women-s-health-strategy-for-england/
- Read more about the College’s calls to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales: Multiagency Call for urgent action by parliament to protect women’s essential reproductive rights | RCOG