While Canada did not completely legalize abortion until 1988 through a Supreme Court decision, the country began loosening its restrictions on abortion in 1969. Starting then, women could get abortions with the approval of a committee of doctors.
As abortion became more and more available in Canada in the 1970s, the abortion rate increased. In 1970, there were 11,152 abortions. By 1980, that number had gone up to 65,751.
These statistics show that when abortion becomes legally available, abortion rates increase over time as more women choose to have abortions.
Here are the statistics:
In 1970:
11,152 abortions
rate: 3.0
In 1971:
30,923 abortions
rate: 8.6
number of abortions: 177.3% increase
abortion rate: 186.7 % increase
In 1972:
38,853 abortions
rate: 11.2
percent increase in abortions: 25.6%
percent increase in abortion rate: 30.2%
In 1973:
43,201 abortions
rate: 12.6
percent increase in abortions: 11.4%
percent increase in abortion rate: 8.7%
In 1974:
48,136 abortions
rate: 13.7
percent increase in abortions: 11.4%
percent increase in abortion rate: 8.7%
In 1975:
49,311 abortions
abortion rate: 13.7
percent increase in abortions: 2.4%
In 1976:
54,478 abortions
abortion rate: 15.1
percent increase in abortions: 10.5%
percent increase in abortion rate 10.2%
In 1977:
57,564 abortions
abortion rate: 15.9
percent increase in abortions: 5.7%
percent increase in rate: 5.3%
In 1978:
62,290 abortions
abortion rate: 17.4%
percent increase in abortions: 8.2%
percent increase in abortion rate: 9.4%
In 1979:
65,043 abortions
abortion rate: 17.8
percent increase in abortions: 4.4%
percent increase in abortion rate: 2.3%
In 1980:
65,751 abortions
estimated abortion rate: 17.9
percent increase in abortions: 1.1%
percent increase in abortion rate (estimated): 0.6%
Sources:
Statistics Canada Daily (Catalogue 11 – 001E), Statistics Canada, Monday, November 30, 1981, pp. 4–6
Statistics Canada (Catalogue 82 – 211), Tuesday, November 23, 1982
Bruce Alton The Abortion Question (Toronto: Anglican Book Centre, 1983) 12
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