The Guttmacher Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer the primary abortion statistics in the U.S.

Guttmacher contacts every abortion provider, while CDC relies on voluntary reporting, which doesn’t include every state.

Thus, Guttmacher data is mainly used for quantitative data while CDC for qualitative.

Abortion Statistics

Overview of statistics on abortion:

About 930,160 legal induced abortions are provided annually in the U.S.

20.6% of all pregnancies in the U.S. end in abortion.

61% of Americans believe abortion should be legal all or most of the time.

The top reason for abortion (25%) is not being ready for a child, <0.5% victim of rape.

93% of abortions occur during the first trimester, at or before 13 weeks of gestation.

The majority of American women (57.1%) who have abortions are in their 20s.

There are 1,687 health care facilities in the U.S. that provide legal abortion services.

The median self-pay cost for medication abortion in the U.S. is $568.

9.3% of legal abortions are performed on women outside their state of residence.

62% of abortion patients have a religious affiliation.

1. About 930,160 legal induced abortions are provided annually in the U.S.

According to the Guttmacher Institute’s latest U.S. abortions statistics (2022), approximately 930,160 legal induced abortions were provided in 2020 in the U.S. (1)

This is an 8% increase from 2017.

No. of Abortions

in 2020 (latest) No. of Abortions

in 2019 No. of Abortions

in 2017

930,160 916,460 862,320

The number of abortions per year increased in all four regions in the U.S between 2017 and 2020.

Abortions in

West Abortions in

Midwest Abortions in

South Abortions in

Northeast

12% increase 10% increase 8% increase 2% increase

The largest increase in the number of abortions by year was 12% in the West, 10% in Midwest, 8% in the South, and 2% in the Northeast. (1)

Similarly, the abortion rate increased to 14.4 abortions per 1,000 women in 2020. This is a 7% increase from 2017.

The long-term decline of legal abortions in the U.S. reverses.

According to the latest abortion statistics by year from Guttmacher and CDC, the long-term decline in U.S. abortions reverses. (1, 2) us-abortion

The annual number of abortions skyrocketed in 1973 after Roe v. Wade legalized the health procedure. The peak of abortion per year was 1.6 million in 1990, according to Guttmacher. (2)

Since the peak, there has been a slow and steady decline in the trend. Although CDC and Guttmacher’s numbers are different, they both show a similar trend throughout history.

2. 20.6% of all pregnancies in the U.S. end in abortion.

According to Guttmacher’s statistics on abortion ratios, the abortion ratio in the U.S. is 20.6% of abortions per 100 pregnancies. This means about one in five pregnancies ends in abortion. (1, 3)

U.S. Abortion Ratio

2020 U.S. Abortion Ratio

2017 U.S. Abortion Ratio

2011

20.6 per 100 pregnancies 18.4 per 100 pregnancies 21.2 per 100 pregnancies

The U.S. abortion ratio has increased 12% between 2017 and 2020.

According to Guttmacher’s statistics on abortion rates (2020), the abortion rate in the U.S. is 14.4 abortions per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44. This is a 7% increase from 2017. (1)

U.S. Abortion Rate

2020 U.S. Abortion Rate

2019 Global Abortion Rate

2019

14.4 per 1,000 women 14.2 per 1,000 women 39 per 1,000 women

Historically, the U.S. abortion rate has been declining since 1981, when it was 29.3 per 1,000 women. But the last numbers still show a reversal of the abortion rate decline.

States/regions with the highest abortion rates are the District of Columbia (48.9%), New Jersey (29.2%), and New York (28.8%). (1)

State Abortion Rate per 1,000 Women Number of Abortions In 2020

District of Columbia 48.9% 9,410

New Jersey 29.2% 48,830

New York 28.8% 110,360

Maryland 25.9% 30,750

Illinois 21.3% 52,780

Florida 19.7% 77,400

California 19.2% 154,060

Georgia 18.9% 41,620

Nevada 17.9% 11,010

Michigan 16.8% 31,510

Interestingly enough, a high abortion rate by state doesn’t necessarily mean a higher total number of abortions.

The states with the highest number of abortions in 2020 were California with 154,060 abortions, New York with 110,360 abortions, and Florida with 77,400 abortions. 3. 61% of Americans believe abortion should be legal all or most of the time.

According to Pew Research Center statistics on abortions (2022), 61% of Americans say abortion should be legal all or most of the time. (4)Legal

In All Cases Legal

In Most Cases Illegal

In All Cases Illegal

In Most Cases

19% of Americans 42% of Americans 8% of Americans 29% of Americans

The numbers in the table above do not add up to the full 100% because 2% of missing are Americans who didn’t respond to the study.

The abortion research also found that the majority (73%) say abortion should be legal if a woman’s life or health is at risk, while 14% say it depends, and 11% say it should be illegal. (4)

Abortion Should Be Legal If Legal It Depends Illegal

Threat to woman’s life or health 73% 14% 11%

Pregnancy is the result of rape 69% 14% 15%

Baby likely to have severe disabilities 53% 25% 19%

69% of U.S. adults say that abortion should be legal if the pregnancy is the result of rape, while 14% say it depends, and 15% say it should be illegal.

53% of U.S. adults say that abortion should be legal if the baby is likely to have severe disabilities or health problems, while 25% say it depends, and 19% say it should be illegal.

4. The top reason for abortion (25%) is not being ready for a child, <0.5% victim of rape.

According to Guttmacher’s reasons for abortion statistics, the most common reason for abortion (25%) in the U.S. is not being ready for a child. Followed by not being able to afford a baby (23%). (5)

Reasons for Abortion Percentage

Not ready for a child 25%

Can’t afford a baby 23%

Have completed childbearing 19%

Don’t want to be a single mother 8%

Not mature enough to raise a child 7%

Would interfere with education/career 4%

Physical health problems 4%

Fetal health problems 3%

Was a victim of rape <0.5%

Other 6.5%

About 19% of women reasoned that they have completed their childbearing or they have other people depending on them. (5)

Less than 0.5% of women had an abortion because they were a victim of rape.

Another <0.5% of abortions were caused because the husband, partner, or parents wanted them to have an abortion.

5. 93% of abortions occur during the first trimester, at or before 13 weeks of gestation.

According to CDC abortion trimester statistics, 93% of abortions occur during the first trimester, at or before 13 weeks of gestation. (6)≤6

Weeks 7–9

Weeks 10–13

Weeks 14–15

Weeks 16–17

Weeks 18–20

Weeks ≥21

Weeks

43% 36.4% 13.4% 2.9% 1.7% 1.6% 1%

About 6% of abortions occur between 14 and 20 weeks of pregnancy and 1% of abortions are performed at 21 weeks or more of gestation. (6, 2)

This CDC data is based on 47 states, the District of Columbia, and New York City, excluding California, Maryland, and New Hampshire.

For the first time, medication abortion accounted for more than half of all abortions in the U.S.

According to Guttmacher’s preliminary data on abortion types, the first time, 54% of all clinical abortions were medical abortions. (7)

Medication In 2020 Surgical In 2020

54% of abortions 46% of abortions

The use of medication abortion has been on an upwards trend since the instruction of the drug 20 years ago.

Medication In 2020 Medication In 2017 Medication In 2014

54% of abortions 39% of abortions 31% of abortions

The medication abortion usage has been growing with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.07% since the introduction of the drug.

According to Guttmacher’s abortion data, the proportion of medication abortion use is not expected to fall below 50% in the future. (7)

6. The majority of American women (57.1%) who have abortions are in their 20s.

According to CDC abortion demographic statistics, 57.1% of women who have abortions are in their 20s and 30.2% are in their 30s. (2)

Ages

<15 Ages

15–19 Ages

20–24 Ages

25–29 Ages

30–34 Ages

35–39 Ages

≥40

0.2% 8.7% 27.8% 29.3% 19.4% 10.8% 3.8%

The data shows that teen abortion (ages 13-19) accounts for 8.9% and women in their 40s account for 3.7%.

Gen Z

Ages 7-24 Millennials

Ages 25-39 Gen X

Ages 40+

36.7% of abortions 59.5% of abortions 3.8% of abortions

By age generations, Gen Z accounts for 36.7% of abortions, Millennials 59.5% of abortions, and Gen X 3.8% of abortions.

There are no definitive generation age ranges, but according to Pew Research data, the most adaptable age ranges are Gen Z ages 7-24, Millennials ages 25-39, and Genx ages 40 and above. (8)

0 Previous

Abortions 1 Previous

Abortion 2 Previous

Abortions >=3 Previous

Abortions

58.2% of women 23.8% of women 10.5% of women 7.5% of women

According to CDC statistics on repeat abortions, for 58.2% of U.S. women, it was the first time they had an abortion. (6)

For 23.8%, it was their second abortion, 10.5%, their third abortion, and for 7.5%, their fourth or more abortion.

White Black Hispanic Other

33.4% of women 38.4% of women 21% of women 7.2% of women

The CDC abortion statistics by race/ethnicity show that out of all women who had abortions in 2019 (latest data), 38.4% were Black, 33.4% White, 21% Hispanic, and 7.2% of other races and ethnicities. (6)

7. There are 1,687 health care facilities in the U.S. that provide legal abortion services.

According to Guttmacher’s abortion clinics statistics (2020), there are 1,687 health care facilities in the U.S. that provide legal abortions. (1)

Abortion Providers

In 2020 Abortion Providers

In 2017 Abortion Providers

In 2014 Abortion Providers

In 1982

1,687 facilities 1,587 facilities 1,671 facilities 2,908 facilities

According to Pew Research abortions statistics in the U.S., the total number of abortion providers has been slowly declining since 1982, when there were 2,908 facilities offering abortion. (2)

The trend downwards trend continued to 2017, with 1587 facilities.

But with the recent increase in the number of abortions across the U.S., the number of abortion providers has increased to 1,867 facilities.

The data includes only the provision of abortion overseen by clinicians and does not account for self-managed abortion.

8. The median self-pay cost for medication abortion in the U.S. is $568.

According to ANSIRH abortion cost statistics (2021), the median self-pay cost for medication abortion in the U.S. is $568, first-trimester procedural abortion is $625, and second-trimester procedural abortion is $775. (9)

Type Medication Abortion Procedural Abortion Procedural Abortion

Period Up to 10 Weeks First Trimester Second Trimester

Latest Year 2021 2021 2021

Median Cost $568 $625 $775

According to the abortion price report, most patients self-pay for their abortion.

Between 2017-2021, median costs for medication abortion in the U.S. increased by 15%, first-trimester procedural abortion costs increased by 31%, and second-trimester abortion costs decreased by 17%. (9)

The ANSIRH cost of abortion data suggests that insurance acceptance for abortion services varies widely by state and has been declining between 2017 to 2021.

Any Insurance

2021 Any Insurance

2020 Any Insurance

2019 Any Insurance

2018 Any Insurance

2017

71% of facilities 79% of facilities 78% of facilities 81% of facilities 82% of facilities

The reduction in insurance acceptance over time is likely caused by state laws that increasingly restrict insurance providers from covering abortion services. (9)

The proportion of health care facilities accepting any form of insurance coverage declined from 82% in 2017 to 71% in 2021.

9. 9.3% of legal abortions are performed on women outside their state of residence.

According to CDC abortion statistics by the state of residence, 9.3% of all abortions are performed on women outside their state of residence. (2)

Different State

2019 Different State

1974 Different State

1973 Different State

1972

9.3% of abortions 11% of abortions 21% of abortions 41% of abortions

The abortion rate outside the state of residence has been stable during the last years. Much of it is thanks to the broad availability of the services across states. (2)

The share of abortions outside of the state of residence was 41% in 1972, before the Roe v. Wade decision that stopped states from banning abortion.

In 1973, the number dropped by almost 2 times to 21%, and in 1974 it was already 11%.

According to Pew Research, many states will further restrict access to abortion in the future, causing more women from states with less abortion access to travel to states with more access. (2)

10. 62% of abortion patients have a religious affiliation.

According to the Guttmacher abortion by religion statistics, the majority (62%) of abortion patients have a religious affiliation. (10)

Catholic Mainline

Protestant Evangelical

Protestant Other

Religion No

Religion

24% 17% 13% 8% 38%

Seventeen percent identify as mainline Protestant, 13% as evangelical Protestant, and 24% as Roman Catholic.

Thirty-eight percent of abortion patients do not identify with any religion. The proportion of no religious affiliation has increased by 38% since 2008.