In France, the number of abortions continues to increase, with 243,623 voluntary terminations of pregnancies carried out last year.
- In France, the year 2023 was marked by an increase in abortions, with the recourse rates reaching 16.8 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15 to 49 in 2023.
- According to figures from the Drees, the medical method represents 79% of the 243,623 abortions performed last year.
- “The extension of the legal appeal deadline, in March 2022, is not enough to explain this increase.”
In France, any pregnant woman who does not wish to continue her pregnancy can request a voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion). There is a maximum legal time limit for an abortion, which depends on the method chosen. According to Health Insurancemedical abortion, carried out in a health establishment or in town outside a hospital, is possible up to 7 weeks of pregnancy, i.e. 9 weeks after the start of the last period. As for instrumental abortion (i.e. by dilation of the cervix and aspiration of the contents of the uterus), it can be carried out, since March 2022, “until the end of the 14th week of pregnancy, i.e. 16 weeks after the first day of the last period.”
“16.8 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15 to 49 in 2023”
In 2022, an increase in voluntary terminations of pregnancies was observed in France, after a decline linked to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. The latter will continue in 2023. “The recourse rate reaches 16.8 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15 to 49 in 2023, compared to 16.4% in 2021 and 15.1% in 2020” and female patients aged 25 to 29 (29.9%) are particularly affected, according to figures recently published by the Department of Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics (Drees).
According to the report, 243,623 abortions were performed last year, or 8,600 more than in 2022. Among these medical procedures, 16,007 concern residents of overseas departments and regions (DROM), including Mayotte. La Dress added that 41% of total abortions are carried out outside health establishments.
The data also shows that the medical method represents 79% of all abortions, compared to 68% in 2019 and 31% in 2000. In detail, 48% of medical abortions take place in health establishments, 46% in private practices. and the remaining 6% in a health center or sexual health center.
Abortion: how to explain this increase?
“The extension of the legal appeal deadline, in March 2022, is not enough to explain this increase”, indicates the Directorate of Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics. According to Sarah Durocher, president of Family Planning, this increase in abortions is multifactorial. The latter would be linked to the lack “information about contraception. It’s been 10 years since there was a national campaign”, she declared on the microphone of FranceInfo. Other possible causes: a problem “sexuality education” and a “lack of access to health”, with long waiting times to consult a gynecologist or midwife.
