Wellington, New Zealand (LifeNews.com) -- The number of abortions dropped for the first time in New Zealand since 1998, according to new figures released by Statistics New Zealand. The agency also reported that the general abortion rate is down as well.

At its lowest point in seven years, the number of annual abortions in New Zealand was 1.6 lower from 2003 to 2004. In 2003, 18,510 abortions were performed and there were 18,210 in 2003, a 1.6 percent decrease.

That's a change from sharp increases of 6.5 percent in 2003 and 5.9 percent in 2002.

The abortion rate, or the number of abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44, dropped from 21.0 in 2003 to 20.5 per 1,000 in 2004.

As in the United States, women between the ages of 20-24 had the most abortions of any age group, accounting for approximately 30 percent of all abortions in 2004. They also had the highest abortion rate of any age category with 39 per 1,000 women.

Women between 25-29 had the next highest abortion rates followed by teenagers between 15 to 19. Over the last decade, abortion rates have increased for all age groups, Statistics New Zealand reports.

The new numbers come at a time when pro-life advocates are taking a 1977 abortion law to the nation's high court saying that it was intended to provide abortion guidelines but has, instead, been used to promote unlimited abortions for any reason.

Right To Life New Zealand filed suit against the Abortion Supervisory Committee saying the agency has misinterpreted the law.

The measure was approved "with the objectives of stopping abortion on demand and to provide effective legal protection for unborn children," the group said in a statement.

However, the pro-life group said that nation governments since 1978 have failed to correctly apply the act.

The group, which also sued the country's attorney general, said 98 percent of abortions have been approved for mental health reasons, even though studies show abortion has a negative impact on a woman's physical and emotional health.

"It is our belief that these abortions are for socioeconomic reasons masquerading as psychiatric," the statement said.