Around 73 million unborn children die annually as a result of abortion worldwide.
92% confidence
HealthInternational
Omissions
The 73 million figure comes from a study covering the 2015–2019 period, published in 2020 by Bearak et al. in The Lancet Global Health. By the time the MEP spoke in June 2026, the underlying data was 7–11 years old, though it remains the most recent comprehensive global estimate.
The MEP uses the term 'unborn children' (nienarodzonych dzieci), which reflects an anti-abortion ethical framing. The WHO and other health organisations use the neutral medical term 'induced abortions'. The factual magnitude of the figure is not affected by this rhetorical choice.
Sources
PrimaryWorld Health Organization (WHO)Around 73 million induced abortions take place worldwide each year. Six out of 10 (61%) of all unintended pregnancies, and 3 out of 10 (29%) of all pregnancies, end in induced abortion.
PrimaryGuttmacher InstituteOf these unintended pregnancies, 61% ended in abortion. This translates to 73 million abortions per year.