According to the German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), approximately 26,000 abortions were reported in the third quarter of 2024, a 2.6% decrease from the same period in 2023.
The majority of women, 68%, who underwent an abortion in the third quarter of 2024 were between the ages of 18 and 34, while 20% were between 35 and 39, and 9% were 40 or older. Three percent of the women were under the age of 18. Forty-two percent of the women had not given birth to a child prior to the abortion.
Ninety-six percent of the reported abortions were performed in accordance with the counseling regulations, with the remaining 4% due to medical indications or sexual offenses. The most common methods used were suction (45%) and the medication mifepristone (42%). The majority of the procedures, 85%, took place in outpatient settings, such as doctor’s offices or outpatient clinics, while 13% occurred in hospitals.
The statistical office did not assess the reasons behind the decline in abortions, stating that the data does not provide insight into the personal decision-making factors for undergoing an abortion after counseling.