In 2025, 106,000 abortions were reported in Germany. According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), this represents a slight decrease of 0.7 percent compared to the previous year. Despite this minor drop, the number remained higher than the average recorded between 2014 and 2020, when the annual figure consistently stayed between approximately 99,000 and 101,000. However, the data does not allow for an assessment of the underlying causes for this trend, particularly as the statistics do not track the personal reasons motivating an abortion after counseling.
Demographically, most procedures were performed on women aged 18 to 34, who accounted for 69 percent of the reported cases. Women aged 35 to 39 years made up 20 percent, while 9 percent were 40 years and older, and 3 percent were younger than 18. Notably, 44 percent of women undergoing an abortion had not previously given birth.
Most reported terminations occurred under the counseling regulation (96 percent of the cases). Only 4 percent were attributed to medical indications or sexual offenses.
Regarding methods of termination, Mifegyne was used most frequently for the first time, accounting for 45 percent of the cases. This was followed by vacuum aspiration (curettage) at 43 percent, although these procedures were historically the most used method up until 2024. Most procedures were conducted as outpatient appointments, with approximately 86 percent taking place in doctor’s offices or surgery centers, and 12 percent in hospitals. The majority of abortions (80 percent) occurred within the first eight weeks of pregnancy, with only 3 percent happening at or after the 12th week.
Comparing 2025 to 2015 (which reported 99,200 cases), the number of abortions saw an overall increase of 6.5 percent, or 6,500 cases.
While the overall picture shows an increase, the data highlights varied shifts across age groups. The rates decreased among women aged 15 to 17 years (-6.1% or -200 cases) and among those aged 20 to 24 years (-4.4% or -900 cases). Conversely, there were marked increases in the groups aged 30 to 34 years (+8.5% or +1,900 cases), 35 to 39 years (+27.5% or +4,500 cases), and 40 to 44 years (+24.1% or +1,600 cases).
These shifts may correlate with underlying demographic factors. During the same period, the number of women aged 15-17 years dropped by 4.0 percent, and those aged 20-24 years dropped by 4.9 percent. In contrast, the number of women in the 30-34, 35-39, and 40-44 age groups increased by 2.4, 14.7, and 6.6 percent, respectively. Analyzing the rate per 10,000 women, the incidence rate increased for women aged 30-34 (from 86 to 92), 35-39 (from 67 to 75), and 40-44 (from 26 to 31).
Furthermore, the timing of the terminations became earlier in 2025 compared to a decade earlier. Only 36 percent of abortions occurred within the first six weeks in 2015, compared to 49 percent in 2025. Correspondingly, the proportion of abortions occurring between the seventh and eleventh week dropped from 61 percent in 2015 to 48 percent in 2025.
The trend toward using combined medications was significant. The proportion of abortions performed using Mifegyne surged from 19 percent in 2015 to 45 percent in 2025, representing an increase of 28.8 percent cases. Conversely, the share of vacuum aspiration sharply declined from 64 percent in 2015 to 43 percent in 2025, according to the Federal Office.