Abortion Statistics in New Zealand
There are lots of statistics being thrown about in the abortion debate. Let’s set the record straight….
Latest statics are from Ministry of Health’s annual report
IMPORTANT TO NOTE: The number of abortions per pregnancy has been dropping. That means that more women are choosing to keep their baby, which is a great thing. It also destroys the argument that abortions are dropping simply because of contraception being used.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE: in 2017, 1 in 4 women had already had one abortion. 13% of women had had two or more previous abortions.
1st Trimester abortions – surgical or medical?
IMPORTANT TO NOTE: * 94-97% of abortions towards the end of the 1st trimester are surgical.
* Between 4 and 8 weeks, there are more surgical than medical abortions.
* Almost 30,000 1st trimester surgical abortions in just the last three years
2nd Trimester abortions – surgical or medical?
IMPORTANT TO NOTE: * Surgical abortions are more common at the beginning of the 2nd trimester.
* As the gestation period increases (19 weeks onward), medical abortions are required more often (some surgical abortions are still performed though).
* Over 1,700 2nd trimester surgical abortions in just the last three years
IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Of the total abortions, 1.1% are because of health risks to the mother, and 1.5% are because of fetal abnormality. That means that a significant number of abortions in the 2nd and 3rd trimester are ‘right to choose’ abortions.
How many abortions as a result of rape?
How many children don’t tell their parents?
