Abortion Statistics: 2004

The general abortion rate (abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44 years) dropped from 21.0 in 2003 to 20.5 per 1,000 in 2004, Statistics New Zealand reported today.

The number of abortions performed in New Zealand has dropped for the first time since 1998. A total of 18,210 induced abortions were performed in New Zealand in the December 2004 year, 300 (1.6 percent) fewer than in 2003 (18,510). This drop follows increases of 6.5 percent in 2003 and 5.9 percent in 2002.

Women aged 20–24 years had more abortions than other age groups, accounting for approximately 3 out of 10 abortions in 2004. Women aged 20–24 years also had the highest abortion rate of any age group (39 abortions per 1,000 women). Women aged 25–29 years had the next highest rate (27 per 1,000), followed by teenagers aged 15–19 years (26 per 1,000). Over the last decade, abortion rates have increased for all age groups.

The median age of women having an abortion has remained stable over the last decade, at around 25 years.

Ian Ewing

Acting Government Statistician

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