What is the connection between abortion and demographics?
Abortion and demography are closely linked. Abortions can impact population growth and makeup within a country or region. In societies with a high abortion rate, this can contribute to a slowing of population growth, especially when coupled with low birth rates.
Women's and families' decisions regarding abortion can affect the age structure of the population. A lower birth rate, to which abortions can contribute, leads to an aging population. This, in turn, has implications for public services, particularly pension and healthcare systems.
In some countries, a preference for children of a specific gender, often combined with the availability of prenatal diagnostics, has led to an imbalanced gender ratio at birth. Abortions based on the fetus's gender have direct demographic consequences and can result in long-term social and economic issues.