In 2019, 15.6 out of 1,000 women, aged between 15 and 49, resorted to voluntary termination of pregnancy in mainland France.

Since 1995, "the overall rate of abortion has followed an upward trend," says Drees.

The abortion rate increased slightly in 2019, with more than 232,000 abortions performed in France, reaching its highest level in thirty years, according to a Drees study published Thursday.

Last year, 15.6 out of 1,000 women, aged between 15 and 49, resorted to voluntary termination of pregnancy in mainland France (+0.6 point compared to 2018), and 28.2 in the departments and regions overseas (+0.4), according to annual figures from the Directorate of Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics.

Women aged 20 to 29 are the most affected

"Since 1995," the overall rate of abortion (number of abortions compared to the number of women, Editor's note) has been trending upwards ", specifies the DREES. In 2019, 232,200 abortions were carried out, ie approximately one for three births. Since 2001, this number has fluctuated between 215,000 and 230,000. A women aged 20 to 29 remain the most concerned, their recourse rate being 27.9 abortions per 1,000 women, "he added.

Since the 2010s, the rate of abortion has increased among those in their thirties, the study notes, while it has decreased among those under 20.

Strong territorial disparities

Territorial disparities remain strong, varying "from simple to triple depending on the region".

Recourse is higher in Île-de-France, in the South-East, and in certain overseas departments and regions (Drom) where the rate rises to 39, as in Guadeloupe and Guyana.

For the first time, the DREES crossed the data on abortions with the tax data, highlighting a correlation between standard of living and recourse to abortion, "the most precarious women resorting to it significantly more than the wealthy" .

Since the authorization of drug-induced abortions in 2001, the number of surgical abortions has been steadily declining.

In 2019, 70% of abortions were carried out using medication against 30% in 2001. Nearly one in five abortions was carried out between the 10th and 12th week of pregnancy, the maximum legal period.

The delegation for women's rights in the Assembly recently recommended extending this period from 12 to 14 weeks, a measure which will be the subject of a bill studied in October.