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 2023, a reported 101,553 abortions took place in Canada, up from 97,211 in 2022.
Additional 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 Additional Annual Abortion Totals 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 2023, approximately 22% of all Canadian pregnancies (excluding spontaneous miscarriages) ended in abortion. This is up from 21% in 2022.*
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 2023, the highest percentage of pregnancies were aborted in the Northwest Territories (32%), British Columbia (25%), Ontario (24%), and Newfoundland and Labrador (24%). The lowest percentage of pregnancies were aborted in Nunavut (7%), New Brunswick (15%), and Saskatchewan (15%).
WHO HAS ABORTIONS?
- In 2023, 4% of Canadian abortions were performed on women of unknown age. Among the rest, 2% were performed on women aged 17 or younger, 52% were performed on women aged 18-29, and 46% were performed on women aged 30 or above.
<17 years 18-24 years 25-29 years 30-34 years ≥35 years 2.2% 25.8% 26.3% 23.0% 22.7%
HOW DOES ABORTION TAKE PLACE?
- In 2023, approximately 79% of Canadian abortions were performed in clinics. The rest were performed in hospitals.
- Approximately 59% of 2023 abortions were performed surgically. The rest were performed medically.
ABORTIONS BY PROVINCE/TERRITORY
- The table below indicates how many abortions took place in each province/territory.
Province/territory Hospital Abortions (2023) Clinic Abortions (2023) Newfoundland and Labrador 44 984 Prince Edward Island 330 N Nova Scotia 1,255 720 New Brunswick 853 229 Quebec 7,030 15,736 Ontario 5,355 36,812 Manitoba 1,217 2,502 Saskatchewan 1,674 628 Alberta 187 11,708 British Columbia 2,821 11,081 Yukon 100 NA Northwest Territories 218 NA Nunavut 69 NA
This page was last updated on February 20, 2026. To cite this page in a research paper, visit: "Citing Abort73 as a Source."
