Church leaders raise alarm over record 55% increase in abortions in Scotland

Following the news that abortion has reached record levels in Scotland, the Catholic Church in the country has called for greater support for pregnant women and has expressed concern about the increase in abortions on the grounds of disability.

Latest figures from Public Health Scotland show that last year there were 18,783 abortions in the country, representing a rise of 55% from the 12,135 procedures conducted in 2016. The rise cannot be attributed to population growth, with figures also showing that the abortion rate per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 rose from 11.9 in 2016 to 17.6 in 2025. In both per capita and gross terms, abortion is rising.

The figures also revealed that in 2025, there were 277 disability-selective abortions, a rise of 61% from 2018. There was also a 50% increase in abortions carried out in the 18th to 20th week of pregnancy. The legal limit for abortion is 24 weeks.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Scotland said the figures underlined the need for a compassionate response toward women facing difficult pregnancies.

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