Nationwide abortion statistics for Canada are available from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). The following information has been gleaned from CIHI abortion data and Statistics Canada birth data to provide an overview of the frequency and demography of abortion in Canada.
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ANNUAL ABORTION STATISTICS
- In 2021, a reported 87,485 abortions took place in Canada, down from 91,551 in 2020.
Annual Abortion Totals by Year 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 91,155 83,576 85,294 94,030 97,764 100,104 100,194 102,446 100,958 108,844 Annual Abortion Totals by Year 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 91,155 83,576 85,294 94,030 97,764 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 100,104 100,194 102,446 100,958 108,844 - In 2021, approximately 19% of all Canadian pregnancies (excluding spontaneous miscarriages) ended in abortion. This is down from 20% in 2020.*
Percentage of Pregnancies Aborted by Year (excluding spontaneous miscarriages) 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 20.2% 18.4% 18.6% 20.0% 20.5% 20.7% 20.7% 21.1% 17.3% 22.3% Percentage of Pregnancies Aborted by Year (excluding spontaneous miscarriages) 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 20.2% 18.4% 18.6% 20.0% 20.5% 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 20.7% 20.7% 21.1% 17.3% 22.3% *CIHI abortion data is collected by calendar year. StatCan birth data is collected from July 1 to June 30. As such, annual abortion data is compared to birth data that was collected during the first six months of the calendar year and the last six months of the year before.
- In 2021, the highest number of reported abortions occurred in Ontario (34,988), Quebec (19,966), and British Columbia (12,395). The fewest number of reported abortions occurred in Prince Edward Island (209), Yukon (76), and Nunavut (44).
WHO HAS ABORTIONS?
- In 2021, 4% of Canadian abortions were performed on women of unknown age. Among the rest, 2% were performed on women aged 17 or younger, 51% were performed on women aged 18-29, and 47% were performed on women aged 30 or above.
<17 years 18-24 years 25-29 years 30-34 years ≥35 years 2.1% 24.8% 25.9% 23.2% 24.0%
HOW DOES ABORTION TAKE PLACE?
- In 2021, approximately 77% of Canadian abortions were performed in clinics. The rest were performed in hospitals.
- Approximately 63% of 2021 abortions were performed surgically.
ABORTIONS BY PROVINCE/TERRITORY
- The table below indicates how many abortions took place in each province/territory.
Province/territory Hospital Abortions (2021) Clinic Abortions (2020) Newfoundland and Labrador 54 874 Prince Edward Island 209 N Nova Scotia 1,158 849 New Brunswick 754 141 Quebec 6,549 13,417 Ontario 5,532 29,456 Manitoba 869 1,951 Saskatchewan 1,220 493 Alberta 913 10,310 British Columbia 2,618 12,395 Yukon 76 NA Northwest Territories 221 NA Nunavut 44 NA
This page was last updated on March 24, 2023. To cite this page in a research paper, visit: "Citing Abort73 as a Source."
