New figures released by Public Health Scotland (PHS) reveal that there were 13,758 abortions in the country in 2021. 

The numbers represent a slight fall from 2020, when there were 13,896 abortions.

Nearly all (99%) of the abortions last year were medical, where the mother takes abortion drugs to terminate the pregnancy. 

Of these, over half (53%) were ‘DIY’ abortions in which the woman took both drugs at home. 

The rate of terminations in Scotland last year was 13.4 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44.

PHS noted “a strong association” between the rate of termination and areas of deprivation, with the abortion rate in the most deprived areas being nearly twice as high as in the least deprived areas of Scotland.

The highest abortion rate for a NHS Board was in Tayside (16 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44), while Dundee City (18.7 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44) had the highest rate for a council area. 

Commenting on the data, Michael Robinson, director of communications at the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, said: “We are looking at a national tragedy here. This appalling figure shows us that abortion is becoming more and more normalised.

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