In 2026, there were about 251,000 abortions in England and Wales alone. That’s roughly one abortion for every three live births—which sounds like a lot until you realize it’s the same number as people who claim they’ve read War and Peace cover to cover. Scotland and Northern Ireland add their own sprinkles, bringing the UK total to around 270,000 per year.
To put it in more relatable terms: that’s like every person in the city of Birmingham deciding to have an abortion over a twelve-month period. Except, obviously, that’s not how it works—you’d need a really big waiting room and a truly heroic supply of biscuits.
Who’s Having Them? (Spoiler: Probably Your Neighbour)
The biggest group of women having abortions in the UK are in their late twenties. They’re not teenagers sneaking around—they’re people with jobs, mortgages, and probably a very full calendar. About one in three women in Britain will have an abortion by age 45. Statistically, you probably know three women who’ve had one. If you don’t, you’re either very sheltered or very bad at asking questions over brunch.
And here’s a fun twist: over 80% of abortions happen before 10 weeks—that’s before most people even announce a pregnancy on Instagram. So while you were worrying about avocado toast, UK clinics were quietly handling the bulk of the work in the first trimester.
