Number of abortions is increasing, but Corona is in between
© An Nelissen
The total number of abortions has increased again in Belgium in the last two years. This is apparent from the latest figures from the National Evaluation Committee for the pregnancy breakdown (NEZ). Compared to the years before the Coronapandemie, the figures remain stable.
Source: Belga
Today at 10:57 AM
De Nez will present its biennial report in parliament on Wednesday. This shows that in 2023 19,686 pregnancy breaks were carried out in Belgium. That is 3,000 more than in 2021 (16,702) and 2020 (16,585). Compared to the years before the pandemic, the figure is stable: the total numbers fluctuated between 18,000 and 20,000 for most years.
According to Carine Vrancken, chairman of Luna, the Union of Dutch -language abortion centers, and also a member of the Nez, the slight increase is therefore attributed to the reduced sexual traffic during the coronape period. As a result, there were also fewer pregnancy breaks.
« But more important is the abortion rate, » says Vrancken. That is a representation of the total number of abortions per 1,000 women of fertile age (15 to 44 years). « That has been fluctuating around nine per 1,000 women for years, apart from the corona years. » Before 2023 the abortion rate is 8.98. « One of the lowest figures in Europe, » said Vrancken.
For the age category 15-19 years, the figure is 4.95, the lowest figure for that age category since 1996, with the exception of the 2019-2022.
