13 million abortions a year in China: Report

China performs about 13 million abortions every year, mostly for single young women who experts say know little about contraception, state media said today in a rare disclosure of sensitive family planning statistics.

The China Daily newspaper said the real number of abortions is believed to be even higher since the 13 million accounts for procedures in hospitals but many more are known to be carried out in unregistered rural clinics.