Liverpool and Brighton & Hove recorded the highest proportion of conceptions ending in legal abortion across England and Wales in 2022, with both areas reaching 40.3 per cent. The figures reveal significant regional variations in abortion rates across local authority areas.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) published the comprehensive data based on women's estimated conception dates and usual residence areas. London boroughs featured prominently in the higher rates, with Lambeth recording 38.4 per cent and Southwark reaching 37.9 per cent.
Regional patterns emerge
Northern England showed notably high rates, with Halton recording 38.1 per cent and Knowsley reaching 38.0 per cent. Portsmouth on the south coast also featured prominently with 37.8 per cent of conceptions ending in abortion.
Major cities demonstrated varying patterns, with Manchester recording 35.8 per cent whilst Birmingham showed a lower rate of 30.8 per cent. Nottingham reached 36.5 per cent, placing it among the higher-rate areas.
London boroughs dominate
Multiple London boroughs appeared in the upper ranges of the data. Westminster recorded 34.4 per cent, whilst Camden reached 33.4 per cent and Hammersmith & Fulham showed 33.3 per cent.
Tower Hamlets recorded 30.5 per cent, demonstrating the variation across the capital. Kensington & Chelsea reached 32.2 per cent, whilst Hackney & City of London showed 31.6 per cent.
Welsh areas show variation
Welsh local authorities displayed mixed patterns across the data. Denbighshire recorded 34.2 per cent, whilst Rhondda Cynon Taf matched this figure exactly.
The Isle of Anglesey showed 33.9 per cent, with Wrexham recording 33.4 per cent. Cardiff, the Welsh capital, demonstrated a lower rate of 27.0 per cent compared to many English urban areas.
Rural areas record lower rates
Rural and more affluent areas generally showed lower abortion rates. East Cambridgeshire recorded the lowest proportion at 18.6 per cent, followed by South Cambridgeshire at 20.0 per cent.
Bolsover in Derbyshire showed 20.2 per cent, whilst several rural districts in Suffolk, Lincolnshire and Gloucestershire recorded rates below 25 per cent. The Cotswolds area demonstrated 21.9 per cent.
University cities vary significantly
Cities with major universities showed differing patterns in the data. Oxford recorded 29.6 per cent whilst Cambridge reached 27.1 per cent, both below the national urban average.
York demonstrated 31.2 per cent, placing it in the middle range of the statistics. Canterbury, home to a major university, recorded a notably higher rate of 34.8 per cent.
The data reflects conception dates and usual residence rather than where procedures took place, providing insight into regional demographic patterns. The statistics cover all legal abortions performed in 2022 across England and Wales.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
