2005 Abortion Figures
(Information obtained from Statistics New Zealand)
There were 17,530 abortions performed in New Zealand in 2005, compared with 18,210 in 2004 and 18,510 in 2003. The general abortion rate was 19.7 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15?44 years in 2005, down from 20.5 abortions per 1,000 in 2004 and 21.0 per 1,000 in 2003.
Women aged 20?24 years had the highest abortion rate (37 abortions per 1,000 women aged 20?24 years) in 2005.
The median age of women having an abortion was 24.7 years in 2005, unchanged from the median age in 2004 and 2003.
Number of abortions
The number of abortions performed in New Zealand has dropped for the second consecutive year. A total of 17,530 induced abortions were performed in New Zealand in the December 2005 year, down from 18,210 in 2004 and 18,510 in 2003.Abortion rates
It is important to note that comparisons over time in abortion rates and in the number of abortions are affected by the legal environment and the provision of abortion services.The general abortion rate (abortions per 1,000 women aged 15?44 years) decreased from 21.0 in 2003 to 20.5 in 2004, and then to 19.7 in 2005. The general abortion rate was 16.1 per 1,000 in 1995.Based on 2005 age-specific abortion rates, 1,000 New Zealand women could expect to have 611 induced abortions during their reproductive life (this is known as the total abortion rate). The total abortion rate for 2005 is 27 percent higher than the rate of 479 per 1,000 recorded a decade earlier in 1995. However, the 2005 rate is 7 percent lower than the peak rate of 654 per 1,000 in 2003.
Abortions by age of women
Women aged 20?24 years have more abortions than other age groups, accounting for approximately 3 out of 10 abortions in any year. Women in this age group also had the highest abortion rate (37 abortions per 1,000 women aged 20?24 years in 2005).Beyond age 24, both the number of abortions and the abortion rate decreased with increasing age. Women aged 25?29 years had an abortion rate of 27 per 1,000 in 2005. Teenagers (15?19 years) had a slightly lower abortion rate (25 abortions per 1,000).
Between 2004 and 2005, abortion rates decreased for all women aged 15 years and over. The median age (half are younger, and half older, than this age) of women having an abortion has remained stable at around 25 years over the last decade.
Previous abortions
Most abortions (64 percent) in 2004 and 2005 were first abortions, compared with 72 percent in 1995. Eleven percent of women having an abortion in 2005 had had two or more previous abortions.Duration of pregnancy
More abortions were performed during the tenth week of gestation than at any other length of gestation. In 2005, about one in five abortions took place in the tenth week of gestation.Ethnicity
Ethnic data for 2002 onwards is based on a question that aligns with the 2001 Census of Population and Dwellings question on ethnicity. Each abortion has been included in every ethnic group specified. For this reason, some abortions are counted more than once and ethnic group totals sum to more than the New Zealand total.Ethnic data for 2002 onwards is not strictly comparable with ethnic data for earlier years. In 2005, there were 9,730 abortions to women who identified with the European ethnic group (either as their only ethnic group or as one of their ethnic groups).
There were 3,880 abortions to women who identified with the Maori ethnic group, 2,960 were to women who identified with the Asian ethnic group, and 2,050 were to women who identified with the Pacific ethnic group.
International comparisons
International comparisons are affected by both statistical coverage and laws relating to induced abortion. Consequently, differences between New Zealand and other countries' abortion indices should be interpreted with care.In 2004, the general abortion rate (abortions per 1,000 women aged 15?44 years) for New Zealand was 20.5 per 1,000. Germany (7.7), Scotland (11.8), Denmark (14.4), Norway (15.3),and England and Wales (16.9) had lower rates. In Australia (19.7 in 2003), Sweden (20.0) and the United States (20.9 in 2002), the abortion rate was similar to the New Zealand level.
Technical notes - Abortion statistics
Abortion is defined as foetal loss excluding stillbirths, usually during the first 20 weeks of gestation. Induced abortions are those initiated voluntarily with the intention of terminating a pregnancy. All other abortions are called spontaneous, even if an external cause is involved,such as injury or high fever.All abortion statistics and derived abortion rates included in this release are based on legally induced abortions registered in New Zealand. No information is available on spontaneous or illegal abortions.
Technical notes - Grounds for abortion
In New Zealand the grounds on which an abortion is permitted are described in the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act 1977 and in section 187A of the Crimes Act 1961.In any year, 98?99 percent of all abortions are performed because of serious danger to the mental health of the woman.Source of abortion statistics
Abortion statistics are obtained from the Abortion Supervisory Committee. For every abortion carried out as approved under the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act 1977, a 'Notification of Abortion' form (ASC Form No. 4) must be filled in by the licensed abortion institution. This is then sent to the Abortion Supervisory Committee.Changes in the collection of abortion statistics Changes have also been made in the collection of ethnic data. The ethnic question from 2002 onwards aligns with the 2001 Census question on ethnicity.
In this release, each abortion has been included in every ethnic group specified. For this reason, some abortions are counted more than once and ethnic group totals sum to more than the New Zealand total.
Ethnic data for 2002 onwards is not strictly comparable with ethnic data for earlier years. In 2004, a new question asking for 'domicile code' was added to ASC Form No 4. However, due to different rates of 'not specified region' across hospitals, regional data should be interpreted with care.
Live births
Live births refer to live births registered in New Zealand by date of registration.Rounding
Abortion figures contained in the tables attached to this release are unrounded. All other figures have been rounded. Derived figures (for example, abortion rates and ratios) have been calculated using unrounded data.
Information obtained from Statistics New Zealand