Mumbai recorded 20,950 Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) procedures between April 2024 and March 2025, according to information obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Among these, 716 abortions involved girls below the age of 19.
The data was released by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) Family Welfare Unit in response to an RTI application filed by social activist Chetan Kothari. The application sought details related to abortions, maternal mortality, and abortion-related deaths in Mumbai.
Women between 25 and 29 years accounted for the highest number of abortion cases during the period.
| Age Group | Number of Abortions |
|---|---|
| Below 19 years | 716 |
| 20–24 years | 3,314 |
| 25–29 years | 7,296 |
| 30–34 years | 5,673 |
The figures indicate that the majority of abortions were recorded among women in their prime reproductive years.
According to the RTI data, contraceptive failure or inadequate use of contraceptive methods was cited as the reason in the vast majority of cases.
| Reasons | Number of Cases |
| Improper use/failure of contraception | 19,495 |
| Risk to woman's life | 271 |
| Serious physical health concerns | 288 |
| Serious mental health concerns | 358 |
| Pregnancies resulting from rape | 27 |
| Foetal abnormalities | 246 |
| Other reasons | 265 |
Out of 20,685 cases where a reason was documented, nearly 94% were linked to issues surrounding contraception.
However, BMC health officials cautioned against interpreting the figures solely as contraceptive failure. They noted that many cases may involve incorrect usage, lack of awareness, inconsistent use, or reluctance to disclose contraceptive practices due to social stigma. Officials stressed that medical records often reflect information shared during consultations and may not capture the full context behind every pregnancy.
The RTI response also provided a ward-wise breakdown of MTP procedures across Mumbai.
| Ward | Number of Cases |
| K-West | 3,248 |
| F-North | 1,960 |
| S Ward | 1,650 |
| R-North | 1,297 |
| G-South | 1,288 |
K-West Ward reported the highest number of abortions among all administrative wards in the city.
The data also categorised abortion cases by religion.
| Community | Number of Cases |
| Hindu | 15,765 |
| Muslim | 3,442 |
| Christian | 649 |
| Sikh | 354 |
| Other Communities | 740 |
In addition to induced abortions, Mumbai recorded 4,226 spontaneous abortions, commonly referred to as miscarriages, during the same period.
Health experts note that spontaneous abortions can occur due to various medical, genetic, and pregnancy-related complications and are distinct from medically induced terminations.
Kothari had sought similar information through an RTI application in 2017. Data covering April 2017 to March 2018 revealed a significantly higher number of MTPs, with 35,358 procedures recorded during that year.
The earlier RTI response also documented 19 maternal deaths linked to abortion-related complications.
Maternal Deaths by Age Group (2017-18)
| Age Group | Number of Deaths |
| 19–25 years | 13 |
| 26–29 years | 3 |
| 30–35 years | 3 |
Maternal Deaths by Religion (2017-18)
| Community | Number of Deaths |
| Hindu | 9 |
| Muslim | 9 |
| Christian | 1 |
The latest RTI data highlights that Mumbai continues to record a substantial number of abortions annually, with women aged 25–29 accounting for the largest share of cases. While contraception-related reasons dominate the statistics, health officials emphasise that the figures should be viewed within a broader context of awareness, access, counselling, and social factors. The data also underscores the need for continued focus on reproductive health education, family planning services, and maternal healthcare across the city.