Abortions Surge in India's Most Educated State—What Kerala's Data Tells Us About Changing Attitudes

Abortion remains a taboo topic in many parts of India, often buried under stigma, moral judgment, and bureaucratic hurdles. Yet, in Kerala—the state with the highest literacy rate in the country—new data reveals a different story.

According to the Health Management Information System (HMIS), abortion cases in Kerala have surged by over 76% in the last nine years

. This dramatic rise is not necessarily a cause for alarm, but rather a signal that women are becoming more aware of and assertive about their reproductive rights.

Sharp Rise in Numbers

In 2014-15, 17,025 abortion cases were reported in Kerala. By 2023-24, the number had jumped to around 30,000.
Of these:

• 21,282 were conducted in private hospitals

• Only 8,755 were handled by government hospitals

Between 2015-16 and 2024-25, Kerala saw 1,97,782 abortions

in total, with:

• 67,004 in public hospitals

• 1,30,778 in private institutions

The data includes both voluntary and medically necessary abortions.

Why the Shift Toward Private Hospitals?

Health experts point to privacy concerns as the main reason women in Kerala prefer private healthcare facilities. Confidentiality, better post-abortion care, and non-judgmental support are key factors driving this choice.

In contrast, many government hospitals still demand documents like marriage certificates

, discouraging unmarried women or those seeking privacy from seeking care in the public system.

Not a Crisis—A Sign of Awareness

While abortion is still viewed negatively in many circles, experts urge the public to look at these rising numbers differently. Most abortions, they say, are sought to protect the health and autonomy of women—not out of carelessness or coercion.

That said, forced abortions and lack of proper medical counseling still remain concerns. Medical professionals are encouraged to take a supportive, informative approach rather than a judgmental one.

Legal Backing for Reproductive Rights

The increase also aligns with the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021, which extended the permissible abortion window from 20 to 24 weeks under specific conditions—making it easier for women to legally seek safe terminations.

The Bigger Picture

Kerala’s abortion data tells a broader story: educated, informed women are increasingly exercising control over their reproductive choices. But it also highlights systemic gaps—particularly the over-reliance on private hospitals—which public healthcare systems must urgently address.

From demanding better infrastructure in government hospitals to training doctors to be more empathetic, the journey toward reproductive justice still has many steps to go.