Abortions rise in Netherlands for first time since 2008

In 2015 there were a total of 30.803 abortions in the Netherlands, 442 more than in 2014, according to figures from the Healthcare Inspectorate. This is the first time in years that the number of abortions increased. Since 2008 there were fewer abortions each year, ANP reports.

Another first in the new figures is that the most abortions came from the age group 25 to 30 years. Previously women aged 20 to 25 years always had the most abortions.

The number of teenagers getting abortions declined by 3 percent to 3,079. This number has been declining since 2002. In 83 cases the girl getting an abortion was younger than 15-years-old.

A total of 1,024 abortions (4.6 percent) were done after a prenatal diagnosis.

The most abortions were done in Noord-Holland and Flevoland. Drenthe, Zeeland and Friesland had the least.