KEY POINTS:
After two years of falling, the number of abortions has increased slightly, Statistics New Zealand said today.
A total of 17,930 abortions were induced in 2006, a rise of 2.3 per cent or 400 more than in the previous year.
This follows decreases of 3.7 per cent between 2004 and 2005, and 1.6 per cent between 2003 and 2004.
The abortion rate was 20.0 abortions per 1000 women, up from 19.7 in 2006. 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
