Abortion rate drops again

The number of abortions has dropped for the second year in a row, Statistics New Zealand said today.

There were 17,530 induced abortions in 2005, down 3.7 per cent from 2004.

The abortion rate was 19.7 abortions per 1000 women, down from 20.5 in 2004.

Women aged 20 to 24 had the highest rate of 37 abortions per 1000 women.

The average age of a woman having an abortion was 25.

- NZPA