Germany reported 106,000 abortion procedures in 2025, according to data published by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). While this figure represents a slight annual decrease of 0.7 percent, the absolute number remains higher than the average recorded between 2014 and 2020, when yearly reports typically ranged between 99,000 and 101,000 cases. The source noted that due to the nature of the aggregated data, it is impossible to determine the causes of this trend, particularly concerning the personal decision-making reasons for an abortion under the counseling rule.
The majority of procedures were carried out under the mandatory counseling rule, which accounted for 96 percent of the reported abortions. Medical indications or procedures related to sexual offenses accounted for the remaining 4 percent.
In terms of demographics, 69 percent of the women who underwent an abortion in 2025 were aged between 18 and 34. Twenty percent were in the 35-to-39 age bracket, 9 percent were 40 years or older, and 3 percent were under 18. Furthermore, 44 percent of the women had never given birth before the procedure.
Medically, the most administered methods showed a significant shift from previous years. Mifegyne was used for the majority of abortions (45 percent), marking the first time this medication surpassed the 45 percent threshold. This was followed by vacuum aspiration (suction), which accounted for 43 percent; this procedure had historically been the most frequent through 2024. The procedures were predominantly outpatient, with about 86 percent taking place in doctor’s offices or treatment centers, and the remaining 12 percent occurring in hospitals. Most abortions (80 percent) were performed within the first eight weeks of pregnancy, while 3 percent were carried out twelve weeks or later.
Comparing 2025 to 2015 (when 99,200 cases were reported), the 2025 number was 6.5 percent (or 6,500) higher. This pattern of increase, however, was not uniform across age groups. The number of abortions declined in the 15 to 17 age bracket (-6.1 percent) and the 20 to 24 bracket (-4.4 percent). Conversely, there were notable increases in the 30 to 34 age group (+8.5 percent), 35 to 39 age group (+27.5 percent), and 40 to 44 age group (+24.1 percent).
These trends are partially attributed to demographic factors. Over the same period, the absolute numbers of women aged 15-17 and 20-24 both decreased in rate, while the numbers for 30-34, 35-39, and 40-44 year olds increased. In terms of rates per 10,000 women, the rates in the 30-34, 35-39, and 40-44 age groups all showed increases over the ten years, while the 15-17 and 20-24 cohorts saw only minor changes.
A major observable trend was the timing of the procedures; abortions in 2025 were more likely to occur in earlier weeks compared to a decade prior. In 2025, 49 percent of procedures were conducted within the first six weeks, significantly up from only 36 percent in 2015. Conversely, the share of abortions occurring between the seventh and eleventh weeks dropped from 61 percent to 48 percent.
The methods used also reflected a profound shift. The proportion of abortions conducted using Mifegyne increased sharply from 19 percent in 2015 to 45 percent in 2025. Concurrently, the use of vacuum aspiration declined substantially from 64 percent to 43 percent, according to the federal office.
