How are attitudes towards abortion in Britain changing?

In the UK, the Abortion Act 1967 allows abortions up to 24 weeks into pregnancy, with stricter conditions for later-term procedures, such as in cases of severe foetal abnormalities or risks to the mother’s health. In 2022, there were 251,377 abortions for women resident in England and Wales—the highest number since the Abortion Act was introduced and a 17% increase over the previous year. Across the Atlantic, the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade in the United States has removed federal protections for abortion rights, leading 14 states to implement outright bans. This significant development has reignited global discussions on reproductive rights, prompting renewed scrutiny of abortion laws, including those in Britain.

What do people in Britain think about abortion today? 

Each year, NatCen's British Social Attitudes survey (BSA) gathers opinions from a representative sample of the population on various social issues. Since 1983, the survey has asked respondents whether or not they think the law should allow abortions in the following scenarios:

1. The woman's health is seriously endangered by the pregnancy.
2. There is a strong chance of defect in the baby.
3. The woman decides on her own she does not wish to have a child.
4. The couple cannot afford any more children.
5. The woman is not married and does not wish to marry the man. 

The most recently available data on abortion reveals strong support for abortion in Britain, though levels of support vary depending on the scenario. Support for the law allowing abortion is particularly strong when health risks are a factor. For example, 95% of people believe abortion should be allowed if the woman’s health is seriously endangered by the pregnancy and 89% if there is a strong chance of the baby having a serious health condition. However, the level of support decreases when financial concerns or personal circumstance come into play. For example, 76% of people believe abortion should be allowed if the woman decides on her own she does not wish to have a child, 72% if the couple cannot afford any more children, and 68% if the woman is not married and does not wish to marry. 

How have attitudes towards abortion changed?

Although attitudes towards abortion in Britain vary depending on circumstances, there has been a notable increase in support across all scenarios over the past four decades. The most significant attitudinal changes have occurred in scenarios that were historically met with less approval. For instance, support for the law allowing abortion when a woman decides on her own she does not wish to have a child has increased by 39 percentage points since the first wave of BSA, increasing from 37% in 1983 to 76% in 2022. 

How do attitudes towards abortion vary by demographic group?

Attitudes towards abortion not only vary depending on the scenario but also by the characteristics of the respondents asked. People with higher educational qualifications tend to be more supportive of abortion than those without. For example, 80% of people with a degree believe abortion should be allowed if the woman decides on her own she does not wish to have a child, compared to 54% of those with no qualifications. This pattern is also evident in scenarios with broader support, such as when a woman’s health is at serious risk. In such cases, 97% of people with a degree believe abortion should be allowed if the woman’s health is seriously endangered by the pregnancy, compared to 87% of those with no qualifications. Notably, the educational divide has widened over time. Support for abortion in cases where a woman decides on her own she does not wish to have a child has increased by 36 percentage points among degree holders over the past four decades, compared to just 13 percentage points among those without any qualifications.

Religious beliefs also play a significant role, particularly in faiths like Roman Catholicism, which traditionally condemns abortion. For instance, 84% of people with no religious affiliation support abortion if a woman decides on her own she does not wish to have a child, compared to 58% of Catholics and 62-72% of adherents from other religious groups. Despite these differences, more than half of individuals from each religious background express support for abortion in all scenarios.

Finally, ideology is strongly associated with attitudes towards abortion. Among those categorised as libertarian—who advocate for individual freedom and believe that individuals should be left to decide personal issues for themselves—70% believe abortion should be allowed if a woman decides on her own she does not wish to have a child. In contrast, among those categorised as authoritarian—who support strong central authority and the enforcement of a particular moral code—58% hold the same view. Similar to the educational divide, this ideological gap has widened over time. In 1995, 65% of libertarians supported a woman's right to choose, while 60% of authoritarians did. Since then, support has increased by 5 percentage points among libertarians but decreased by 2 percentage points among authoritarians, resulting in a 7% increase in the divide between these groups.

Looking ahead, as education levels rise and society becomes more secular, support for women’s autonomy and reproductive rights is likely to continue to increase. However, the deepening ideological divide poses a potential challenge. This widening gap in perspectives, coupled with significant global developments like the recent changes in U.S. abortion laws, may lead to greater polarisation within society. As such, the topic of abortion will likely continue to spark thoughtful discourse and debate within the UK’s social and political landscape for years to come.