New Zealand Abortion Rate Rises: Birth Rate Steadily Dropping

WELLINGTON, June 15, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Newly released statistics are showing a steady increase in the abortion rate in New Zealand. Despite the theory that more sex education and wide distribution of artificial contraceptives reduces the abortion rate, New Zealand had 1130 more abortions in 2003 than 2002. One in three of these were procured by women who had already had one abortion. The jump was even higher for women between the ages of 15 and 20, from 20 to 21 per 1000. One in ten had already had two or more abortions. Last year 89 girls aged 11-14 had abortions. A woman wanting to procure an abortion must have the consent of two doctors, but the national health service pays the costs.  These numbers mean that the women of New Zealand have three times as many abortions as those in the Netherlands and Germany. In 2003, New Zealand had 14.14 births per 1,000 population with the numbers showing a steady drop since 2000 when there were 14.28 per 1000. The population growth rate is slowing to replacement level and, like most developed countries the increase is from immigration. This means that New Zealand will inevitably start following the trend of the rest of the developed world in an aging population and imminent demographic crisis. Most countries with such low birth rates are facing labour shortages and fears of economic trouble ahead when young workers will not be available to replace those who retire.  Planned Parenthood International claims that New Zealand is a country where the contraceptive message has been heard “despite an active anti-abortion, anti-choice lobby, there is general acceptance of family planning services.”