A record 278,740 abortions were carried out in England and Wales in 2023, according to new figures released today by the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care. The total marks an 11% increase on the previous year, with 26,618 more abortions than in 2022.
Among the most concerning elements of the report are the numbers relating to disability-selective abortions. A total of 735 abortions involved babies diagnosed with Down syndrome, a 7.3% rise compared to 2019. The data also recorded 300 abortions at 24 weeks or later on grounds of disability, ten of which involved babies with Down syndrome.
