JERSEY’S abortion ratio has surged by 79% in the past five years, according to a newly published public health report.
The latest Termination of Pregnancy Report reveals that there were 380 terminations for every 1,000 live births in the Island last year.
Abortion ratio is a “key indicator that places abortion in the context of pregnancy outcomes,” according to the report.
“It reflects how common termination is relative to live births, helping to monitor reproductive trends and inform service planning.”
But the report makes clear that the increased ratio in Jersey is not simply due to more abortions, but also reflects the Island’s steep fall in births.
In 2020, there were 869 live births in Jersey. By last year, that had dropped to 711 – the lowest number of babies born in the Island since the end of the Occupation.
Jersey’s abortion ratio of 380 is lower than England and Wales (470) but “notably higher than many European countries”, according to the report.
“It exceeds the most recently reported figures for Sweden (339), the EU average (199), and
is significantly higher than those for Portugal (200) and Germany (153).”
The document noted that “Jersey’s relatively high abortion ratio may reflect improved access to termination care and a broader shift in reproductive decision‑making.”
The total number of terminations last year stood at 270, slightly less than 2024. Since 2020, terminations have increased by 46%, from 190 to 270 cases.
Despite the headline rise, Jersey’s overall abortion rate remains lower than in England and Wales.
In 2025, the Island recorded 14.5 terminations per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44, compared with 23.4 across England and Wales.
Women aged 25 to 29 now have the highest termination rate, reaching a record 26.2 per 1,000 – overtaking younger age groups for the first time.
“This age group has seen a marked upward trend from rates below 16 a decade
ago, and now exceeds the rate amongst younger women (aged 20-24 years) who were consistently the age group with the highest rate prior to the 2021-2023 period,” the report said.
Although not all changes were statistically significant, all age groups aged 25 and over reached their highest termination rates on record in the 2023-2025 period.
The rate for those aged 20-24 was the only one to slightly decrease in the 2023-2025 period.
There has also been an improvement in early access to care, with 92% of terminations now taking place before 10 weeks’ gestation, compared with 51% in 2001.
Medical procedures now account for 91% of all terminations, reflecting a long-term move away from surgical methods.
The majority of abortions – 69% – were first-time terminations, while 24% were second and 7% involved women who had undergone two or more previous terminations. Among women under 25, repeat terminations remain lower than in England, at 20%.
Nearly all terminations – 98% – were carried out on the grounds of “distress”. However, new legislation approved earlier this year now allows abortions up to 21 weeks and six days on any grounds – removing the long-standing requirement for those seeking an abortion to prove they are “distressed” to qualify.
