Number of abortions up almost 20pc

THE number of abortions carried out in Scotland has risen.

Statistics released by Public Health Scotland (PHS) show the number of terminations in 2022 stood at 16,584, an increase of 19 per cent on the previous year.

The rate of abortion in Scotland was 16.1 per 1,000 women between the ages of 15 and 44, up from 11.5 in 2021.

The rise was driven largely by increases in abortions in women aged between 16 and 29.

PHS did not give reasons for the rise but it reflects a similar increase in England and Wales, which experts have linked to the pandemic and cost of living crisis.

Almost all abortions are carried out medically, with women taking two sets of pills to end the pregnancy.