Spain records over 100,000 annual abortions for first time in over a decade

For a second year in its history, Spain has documented over 100,000 abortions committed in the country. According to 2024 data, there were 106,172 abortions that year. That is the highest figure for Spain in more than a decade and a 2.9% increase from 2023.

Key Takeaways:

• Abortions in Spain have topped 100,000 for a second year in its history. The vast majority were elective.

• The Spanish government is becoming more extreme in its support for abortion, attempting to increase funding and solidify abortion as a constitutional 'right'.

The Details:

Abortion was legalized in Spain in 1985. At that time, abortion was only permitted in cases of rape, fetal disability/abnormality, or to save the life of the mother. A 2010 law expanding abortion led to an exponential increase in the number of abortions, with a recorded 118,611 abortions taking place in 2011.  

In 2024, only 2.6% of the abortions in Spain were committed for reasons of serious risk to the life or health of the mother. An additional 2.4% were due to serious fetal abnormalities, and another 0.27% were abnormalities that were considered “incompatible with life.”

According to the statistics, almost 10% of abortions were committed on women younger than age 19. Women representing the 20-24 age range group had the highest number abortions (19.6%). Another 18% of abortions were committed on women in the 24-28 age group.

No data was provided on the number of women who received multiple abortions.

According to the report, abortions on women of Spanish descent actually decreased slightly, dropping from 67% to 64% of all abortions in three years. The increase seen in the number of abortions in Spain can be attributed to women from South America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

The Spanish government has made efforts to increase state funding for abortion and add abortion to its national constitution. This month, the Madrid City Council approved a proposal for women to be given information about “post-abortion syndrome” before receiving an abortion.

The Bottom Line:

As Live Action News previously reported, Spain is in the grips of a national debate and may be descending into abortion extremism.