Estimates of the ratio and rate of induced abortion are made based on the data from annual statistics in the Ministry of Health and the National Population and Reproductive Health Survey conducted by the State Family Planning Commission in 1997, and the causes of the induced abortion are analyzed by using the 1997 survey data as well .It is found that the rate of induced abortion in urban areas was higher than that in rural areas ;the rate undertaken by conceived women who had only girls was lower than that by women who had at least one boy ;induced abortion caused by unwilling pregnancy due to the contraceptive failure was the dominant reason .However, inconsistency with the requirement of family planning was the main cause of the induced abortion in rural areas.