No. of abortions less than 300,000 in 2005

The number of abortions across Japan was 289,127 in fiscal 2005, falling below the 300,000 mark for the first time since the data were first compiled in 1955 and thus hitting the fewest on record, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said Friday.

The ministry in a report attributed the decline to a fall in the number of women of childbearing age, economic recovery that has allowed women to give birth to babies easier and local governments' efforts to help educate teenagers on preventing unwanted pregnancy.