What the rise in abortions says about modern Britain

With terminations at record level, Helen Coffey investigates the factors behind this increase in unwanted pregnancies

- Helen Coffey

In 2026, information is more readily available to us than ever before. Want to know the answer to a question? You can google it – or, increasingly, ChatGPT it; watch an in-depth YouTube video, or view snappy TikTok clips on the subject. But despite our unprecedented access to knowledge, we appear to have gone backwards in some areas. Namely, contraception.

Effective contraception - first in the form of mass-produced rubber condoms in the 1800s, then more recently in formats including the oral contraceptive pill, the coil, and the hormone-dispensing implant in the 20th century - has been one of the most radical inventions in modern history. Freeing up women to pursue education and careers unencumbered by unwanted pregnancy has been a major driver of female independence and increasing gender equality. But despite its revolutionary impact, Brits seem to be using it less and less.

Data released last month revealed that abortions in England and Wales increased by 11 per cent between 2022 and 2023. The age-standardised abortion rate hit 23 abortions per 1,000 residents, the highest rate since the Abortion Act was introduced in 1967. How did we end up here?