The number of abortions performed in New Zealand rose slightly in 2017 compared with the previous year.
A home pregnancy test showing a positive result. Photo: 123rf.com
Figures from Stats NZ showed a total of 13,285 induced abortions were performed, compared with 12,823 in 2016.
The number of abortions has been generally decreasing since 2003.
The general abortion rate - of abortions per 1000 women aged 15 to 44 - was 13.7 in 2017, slightly higher than in 2016 when it was 13.5.
However, the 2016 and 2017 rates were lower than any other year since 1990, Stats NZ said.
In 2017, a greater proportion of abortions were performed earlier in the pregnancy.
About 59 percent of abortions were performed before the 10th week of pregnancy, up from 57 percent in 2016.
The Law Commission is currently looking at what changes could be made to New Zealand's 40-year-old abortion law.
