Abortion at its highest level in Scotland

Abortion level at all-time high

Most pregnancies were terminated by taking prescribed drugs
The number of abortions carried out in Scotland has reached an all-time high.
New figures show that 12,603 pregnancies were terminated in 2005, the highest level since abortion was made legal in 1967.

The NHS health board areas with the highest rates of termination were Tayside and the Lothians.

The lowest rates were found in Argyll and Clyde, Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, according to health service statisticians.

The government's statistics agency said that there were 142 more abortions than in the previous year.

The figures also showed that teenage abortions reached a record level last year.

It is disappointing that there has been a rise in abortions for girls under 16

Dr Harry Burns
Chief medical officer

Some 3,304 abortions were carried out on women and girls under 20.


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