Travel for abortion care highlights healthcare challenges in the Azores
In 2025, 34.2% of women living in the Azores who had an abortion travelled outside the region, according to Portugal's Directorate-General of Health.
Travelling beyond the archipelago was part of accessing abortion care for some Azorean residents in 2025. According to Directorate-General of Health figures reported by RTP Açores, 34.2% of women living in the region who underwent the procedure received that care outside the Azores.
This was Portugal's second-highest proportion of travel between health regions, behind Alentejo at 49%. The indicator compares women's region of residence with the region where care was provided, showing the extent of travel associated with abortion services.
Within the archipelago, RTP Açores reports that the hospital in Ponta Delgada performed 132 procedures in 2025, while the hospital in Horta performed two. These figures describe activity at the institutions, whereas the travel percentage concerns residents who accessed abortion care.
For the Azores, the findings highlight the relevance of healthcare organisation and access to services beyond the region. The figures quantify travel but do not explain the reasons in individual cases or establish the costs and waiting times experienced by the women concerned.
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