The NHS in Scotland publishes its abortion statistics every year as required by the Abortion Act 1967. These can be found at www.isdscotland.org by following the links from Information and Statistics to Health and Care, Women and Children's Health and then Pregnancy. The statistics can be found from the Information link at the side of this page. The statistics provide details of the number of abortions, abortions by age group, gestation, statutory grounds, method of termination and area of residence.

The statistics show that abortions are most common among single women, aged under 24 and aborting their first pregnancy, exactly the constituency for which those campaigning for abortion in 1967 claimed the law would not be used.

The NHS publish statistics on teenage pregnancy, the morning-after pill (so-called 'emergency contraception') and family planning uptake too.

Some charts are also provided on our website on abortion and teenage pregnancy compiled from NHS statistics. These can be found under Beginning of Life.

Copyright © 2002-2008 The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children. All Rights Reserved. Tel: 0141 221 2094. E-mail: Web Design & Development by CSS Web Design