Historically the two islands have had similar rates, but recent data has shown that Jersey has a higher crude abortion rate per 1,000 women aged 15-44.
Abortion rates in Guernsey remain steady, but have increased since 2021. In 2024 Guernsey’s crude abortion rate per 1,000 women aged 15-44 in 2024 was 10.9, compared to Jersey where the crude abortion rate per 1,000 aged 15-44 is 14.9.
The figures have been revealed alongside confirmation that there were 127 abortions carried out in the island in 2024, the highest in any one of the past 10 years.
There were 350 abortions carried out in the three-year period between 2022 and 2024, an average of 117 per year, which is higher than previous results, although health officials consider the rate to have been ‘relatively stable’ since 2010.
Abortion rates in Jersey have also risen in since 2021. Despite the rise, both island have a lower abortion rate than in England and Wales, with latest data from 2022 showing a crude abortion rate per 1,000 women aged 15-44 of 21.5.
‘In 2024, both Guernsey and Jersey continued to record abortion rates below those seen in England and Wales since 2010. Historically, the two islands have had very similar rates, although since 2021 Jersey’s rates have been consistently higher than Guernsey’s,’ said Alex Hawkins-Drew, associate director at Public Health.
‘Guernsey publishes age‑standardised rates to remove the effects of population structure. These rates have fluctuated over the past 15 years, showing some evidence previously of a downward trend and an uplift in the most recent data from 8.1 in 2020 to 10.8 in 2024 per 1,000 women.
‘Over the previous decade, rates varied between 8.4 and 10.5 per 1,000, therefore it is too early to determine whether the 2024 figure represents the start of a sustained upward trend or normal year‑to‑year variation.
‘When looking at three‑year average rates, these short‑term fluctuations are smoothed out and the overall picture appears broadly stable. We will continue to monitor the data closely.’
In the last 15 years the number of abortions in the age group under 20 has reduced, with only 34 abortions in that age group between 2022 and 2024, compared to 99 in the 25-29 age group, which has seen an uplift. Contraception was made available free of charge to islanders aged under-21 from December 2017.
In Jersey women aged 25-29 have the highest termination rate, overtaking the younger age group for the first time.
‘Free contraception for under‑21s was introduced in Guernsey in December 2017, and a reduction in conceptions among this age group was observed. Jersey also provides free contraception for those under 23,’ said Mrs Hawkins-Drew.
Medical procedures account for 77% of terminations. Guernsey has had a lower proportion of medical terminations than Jersey, where 91% of terminations are medical terminations.
The percentage of abortions carried out at the woman’s home, rather than in hospital, has risen from 8% in 2022 to 43% in 2024.
For the three-year period 2022 to 2024, 95% of abortions performed were carried out under the ground that the pregnancy has not exceeded its 24th week and that the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated, of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman or any existing children of her family.
In Jersey 98% of abortions were carried out on the grounds of ‘distress’.
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