RECORD RISE IN BABY GIRLS ABORTED BY INDIAN PARENTS IN UK

Wed 28 January 2026:

A growing gender imbalance in births among Indian families living in the United Kingdom has raised concerns that unborn baby girls are being aborted due to a preference for sons.

Official data analysed by the Office for National Statistics shows that between 2021 and 2025, around 118 boys were born for every 100 girls to Indian-born mothers in the UK. This is significantly higher than the national average of 105 boys per 100 girls.

Experts say such a gap cannot occur naturally and may point towards the continued practice of sex-selective abortion, which is illegal under UK law.

Around 45% of British Indians are Hindus, 20% are Sikhs and 15% are Muslims.

According to government statisticians, the accepted upper biological limit is 107 boys per 100 girls. Ratios above this level are considered a warning sign of possible intervention, including abortion or fertility-related practices.

The data indicates that birth ratios for first and second children among Indian families broadly align with the national average. However, a sharp imbalance appears during third pregnancies.

Statistics on births

In the financial year 2021 to 22, the ratio for third-born children stood at 114 boys per 100 girls. It fell slightly to 109 the following year before rising sharply to 118 boys per 100 girls in 2023 to 24. The same ratio continued into 2024 to 25.

Researchers say this pattern suggests that families who already have two daughters may be terminating pregnancies when the foetus is identified as female.

Rani Bilkhu, founder of domestic abuse charity Jeena International, said the figures highlight persistent gender discrimination within parts of the community.

She said the data shows that boys are still being favoured over girls, adding that pressure from husbands and extended families can force women into terminating female pregnancies.

Bilkhu said some women are also influenced by beliefs they grew up with, including the idea that sons carry the family name while daughters do not. She added that in some households, boys are treated as superior from birth, describing the issue as one of gender equality rather than abortion alone.

 

A large-scale issue

Campaigners have warned that the true scale of the problem may be larger than official figures suggest. 

A spokesperson for Right to Life UK said the data was deeply concerning and likely represented only a fraction of sex-selective abortions taking place across Britain.

The group said that because minority communities account for relatively small numbers of total births, even high proportions of female foetuses being aborted may not always be clearly visible in national statistics.

The latest figures indicate a worsening trend compared to earlier government analysis.

A Department of Health and Social Care review covering 2017 to 2021 found an average ratio of 113 boys per 100 girls for third children born to Indian families. That report estimated the imbalance may have resulted in around 400 baby girls being aborted during that period.

Cultural influences

Sex-selective abortion has long been documented in India, where cultural preference for sons has historically been linked to inheritance traditions, family lineage and social pressures.

In 2018, an Indian government report estimated that around 63 million women were missing from the population due to sex-selective abortions over several decades.

Campaigners say such attitudes can persist within diaspora communities even after migration to countries with strict abortion laws.

ONS data did not show similar gender imbalances among Pakistani or Bangladeshi mothers in the UK, whose birth ratios remained close to the national average.

Under the UK Abortion Act, termination of pregnancy is permitted only under specific medical and social grounds.

In 2014, the government issued formal guidance to doctors stating that abortion on the grounds of gender alone is illegal and that sex is not a lawful reason for termination.

Carrying out an abortion solely because the foetus is female is considered a criminal offence in England and Wales.

Concerns have intensified following proposals to decriminalise aspects of abortion law through amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill.

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Some campaigners fear the changes could weaken safeguards against sex-selective abortion.

Conservative peer Baroness Eaton has tabled an amendment seeking to explicitly outlaw gender-based abortions in legislation.

The issue gained national attention last month after the British Pregnancy Advisory Service stated on its website that sex-selective abortion was not illegal because the law was silent on the matter.

Following widespread criticism, the government reiterated that its position was unchanged.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said sex-selective abortion would not be tolerated under any circumstances.

The spokesperson said sex is not a lawful ground for termination of pregnancy and that any practitioner carrying out an abortion for that reason alone is committing a criminal offence.

The department added that anyone with evidence of illegal abortions should report the matter to the police and said it continues to work with providers to ensure abortions are carried out strictly within the legal framework.

Campaigners say the data highlights not only a legal issue but also a social one, pointing to the pressures faced by women within families and communities.

They argue that addressing the problem requires confronting long-standing beliefs that value sons over daughters and ensuring women are protected from coercion, discrimination and abuse.