In Washington, D.C., a recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center reveals that 62% of American adults believe that abortion should be legal in all or most cases, with 36% opposing it in all or most cases. This survey comes nearly a year after the Supreme Court decision in June 2022 that ended the constitutional right to abortion. Another survey conducted prior to this decision showed that few Americans take an absolutist view on the issue.
Data on abortion in the United States is primarily collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Guttmacher Institute, both of which have been compiling national abortion data for approximately half a century. The CDC’s data comes from its annual “abortion surveillance” reports, including information on the state of residence, marital status, race, ethnicity, and age of women obtaining abortions.
Guttmacher collects its data through national surveys of abortion providers, compiling figures from clinics, hospitals, and physicians’ offices across the country. Their latest report provides data on abortion incidence and service availability in the United States for 2020 and estimates for 2018 and 2019. The institute’s data reveals trends in abortion rates and methods over the years.
Both organizations track the number of abortions in the U.S. annually, with the CDC reporting 625,978 abortions in 2021 while Guttmacher reported 930,160 abortions in 2020. The numbers reflect a decrease in the overall abortion rate since the late 1980s and early 1990s, with a majority of abortions performed during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Regarding the demographics of women who have had abortions, data from the CDC shows that the majority of women obtaining abortions in 2021 were in their 20s, unmarried, and non-Hispanic Black. The CDC reports on the number of live births women had prior to an abortion, with most women having no previous live births.
Additionally, data on medical complications from abortion indicates that about 2% of all abortions in the U.S. involve some type of complication for the woman, with the CDC tracking case-fatality rates for women undergoing induced abortions. The number of deaths related to induced abortions has decreased significantly since the 1970s, with a focus on ensuring safe and legal procedures.
Overall, the data on abortion in the U.S. provides valuable insights into public perceptions, trends in abortion rates, demographics of women seeking abortion, and the safety of abortion procedures in the country. It reflects a complex and evolving landscape surrounding reproductive rights and healthcare practices.