Washington, D.C. – A recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center sheds light on Americans’ varying views on the legality of abortion, following the Supreme Court’s decision that ended the constitutional right to abortion in June 2022. The survey revealed that 62% of U.S. adults believe that abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 36% think it should be illegal in all or most cases. This data reflects the complex perspectives held by Americans on this contentious issue.
Data on abortion in the United States mainly comes from two primary sources: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Guttmacher Institute, both of which have been collecting national abortion data for around 50 years. The CDC’s “abortion surveillance” reports provide information dating back to 1974, including data from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and New York City. On the other hand, the Guttmacher Institute conducts national surveys of abortion providers to compile its abortion data.
When looking at the number of abortions in the U.S., the CDC and Guttmacher Institute provide slightly different figures due to variations in their methodologies. For example, in 2021, the CDC reported 625,978 abortions in 46 states and D.C., while Guttmacher reported 930,160 abortions in all 50 states and D.C. These discrepancies highlight the challenges in accurately capturing abortion data in the country.
Furthermore, the annual number of abortions in the U.S. has fluctuated over the years, with a general downward trend since the late 1980s and early 1990s. Both organizations reported increases in the abortion rate during the late 2010s and early 2020s, emphasizing the need for continued monitoring and analysis of this data to understand trends over time.
Data also reveals that the majority of abortions in the U.S. are conducted during the first trimester of pregnancy, with a small percentage occurring in later stages. Additionally, statistics on the demographics of women who have had abortions show variations in age, marital status, race, and previous live births, providing a comprehensive picture of those seeking abortion services in the country.
Overall, these findings underscore the importance of ongoing data collection and analysis to understand the complexities surrounding abortion in the United States and inform policy and public health efforts related to reproductive rights.