Does access to abortion vary across the UK?
Back to Topic
Click to Print
Useful Websites
Glossary Term Selection
The recent reversal of Roe v. Wade in the United States has highlighted the fragility of abortion rights. In the UK, abortion rates and access are unequal across the constituent countries, within regions and between different income groups.
By Alicja Kobayashi and Madeline Thomas
The decision by the US Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade – and return decisions on whether to allow abortion to individual states – has shone a spotlight on abortion rights around the world.
While there is no imminent threat of legal restrictions on abortion in the UK, access already varies across the constituent countries. For example, despite abortion being decriminalised in Northern Ireland in October 2019 and regulations coming into effect in March 2020, access remains limited, forcing hundreds of women either to travel to other countries or to continue their pregnancy.
Abortion rates also differ within regions in the UK. They are higher for women living in deprived areas, indicating that abortion i...
Want to see the rest of this article?
Would you like to see the rest of this article and all the other benefits that Issues Online can provide with?
- Useful related articles
- Video and multimedia references
- Statistical information and reference material
- Glossary of terms
- Key Facts and figures
- Related assignments
- Resource material and websites
