Abortion Statistics and Information

Since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe vs Wade a few months ago, it’s the abortion conversation in and about the US that has dominated most of our thinking and Canadian information and the concerns here have been largely overshadowed. For that reason, some basic information about abortion in Canada is being included below.

• There are no restrictions on abortions at the federal level in Canada (since 1988), but all provinces have limits in place based on professional medical guidelines, facility mandates and capacity. Three provinces provide abortions up to 23 weeks and 6 days (BC, Ontario and Quebec). In the remaining provinces and territories abortions are restricted to between 12 and 20 weeks.  Source

• Almost 95% of abortions in Canada are in the first 12 weeks with less than 2.5% taking place after 20 weeks. For a late-term abortion (24 weeks +) women need to travel to the United States. Medical abortions using Mifegymiso which can be done up to nine weeks of pregnancy were approved in Canada in 2015 but require a prescription. Source

• Politically, no federal party has taken a stand against abortion including the Conservative party, however, it has members both for and against, and they are allowed to vote their conscience. By contrast, though the Liberal party also has had some members who are not in favour of abortion, under Prime Minister Trudeau they are not allowed to vote their conscience. All Liberal party members are required to vote in favour of abortion rights. Source

• There are more Crisis Pregnancy Centres in Canada than there are abortion providers (this does not however include access using the abortion pill Mifegymiso which can be prescribed by medical professionals including pharmacists, nurse practitioners and midwives). Source

• Canadian healthcare means there are no direct costs associated with pregnancy and birth for a Canadian woman, and maternity and parental benefits are available for people in the workforce through Employment Insurance. Those benefits are more widely available and more generous than benefits available to women or families in the US, which is particularly important for low-income homes and a key difference in the discussions on either side of the border.

  • Despite those advantages for pregnant Canadian women, abortion rates are quite similar.

    • Between the statistical periods of 1990-1994 and 2015-2019 Source (United States);  Source (Canada)

      • The rate of unintended pregnancies per 1000 women aged 15-49

        • US – declined 23% from 45 to 35

        • Canada – increased 22% from 26 to 31

      • The rate of abortions per 1000 women aged 15-49

        • US – declined 48% from 23 to 12

        • Canada – was relatively steady from 13 to 15 and back down to 12

      • The share of unintended pregnancies ending in abortion

        • US – fell from 50% to 34%.

        • Canada – fell from 51% to 37%