· One in three women in the UK have an abortion in their lifetime.

· Around 180,000 abortions a year take place in England. About 10,000 are on women from other parts of the world including Ireland, where it is illegal. 10,000 are performed in Scotland.

· Women between 20- and 24-years-old are the largest users of abortion services.

· Since being legalised under the 1967 Abortion Act, on average around one fifth of all pregnancies in the UK have ended in abortion.

· World-wide, around one quarter of pregnancies end in abortion - nearly half are illegal.

· 70,000 women world-wide die each year from back-street abortions.

· Almost 90% of abortions take place in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

· Contrary to the hype, late abortions are rare. Only 1.6% of abortions in the UK happen after 20 weeks - and they need compelling reasons.

· 76% of adults in the UK are pro-choice.

· The NHS is not required by law to perform abortions.

· In England nearly a quarter of women pay for their abortions because NHS services are restricted.

· Abortion on request is the general rule in most European countries and in the US but not in the UK where the permission of two doctors is required.

Source: Abortion Rights, UK

For more facts and figures and details go to: abortionrights.org.uk