The number of women having abortions in Ireland rose significantly last year to 10,852, the highest on record since the law changed in 2018, allowing abortion on demand up to twelve weeks of pregnancy.

According to the data recently released by the Department of Health, one in six pregnancies in the country now ends in abortion.

That represents a surge of almost 9% over the abortions carried out in 2023, and a 62.8% increase compared to 2019, the first year under the new law. The actual figure will be higher, as not all hospital data is yet available.

The report also shows that the majority of abortions performed in 2024 (98.7%), were not performed due to a risk to the health or life of the mother, or a condition likely to result in the death of the unborn child.

Furthermore, the highest number of terminations in 2024 were recorded in January (1,056),and the lowest in February (820).

About 240 women travel to the UK from Ireland every year to access abortion care, said the National Women’s Council.

Pro-life reaction

For Eilís Mulroy, spokesperson of the Irish pro-life group of the Pro Life Campaign (PLC), the figures “are truly horrifying”, the Christian Institute reported.

“There is no sign of any willingness on the part of the Government to sincerely address what’s taking place or to even engage with people who are calling for reasonable measures to be brought forward to try and reduce the spiralling numbers of abortions taking place. This needs to urgently change”, she stressed.

The Christian Institute director, Ciarán Kelly pointed out that “every human life is made in God’s image and precious in his sight, that includes the unborn. The death of nearly 11,000 of them is nothing short of tragedy”.

England and Wales decriminalises abortion

The Irish figures were released week after their neighbours in England and Wales voted to decriminalise abortion at any stage of pregnancy, right up to birth.

Abortion is now permitted up to the first 24 weeks of a pregnancy. Terminations can be carried out after this time limit under certain circumstances, including if the woman’s life is in danger.

“This is not healthcare, this is abandonment”, said the leader of pro-life and pro-women movement of the UK Evangelical Alliance (EAUK), Both Lives UK leader, Dawn McAvoy.