United States Abortion Statistics from 1973 to 2018
Americans’ Views Concerning Abortion
60% of Americans think abortion should be legal in only a few circumstances (39%) or in no circumstances (21%); just 38% think abortion should be legal in most or all circumstances.
62% of women (compared to 58% of men) think abortion should be legal in only a few circumstances or in no circumstances.
Source: Gallup, 2019
65% of Americans think abortion should be generally illegal in the second trimester of pregnancy; 81% think abortion should be generally illegal in the third trimester.
Source: Gallup, 2018
54% of Americans oppose using tax dollars to pay for abortion.
59% of Americans support legislation that would ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy (except to save the life of the mother).
Source: Marist, January 2019
78% believe that women who have abortions commonly experience moderately severe to very severe negative emotional reactions to abortion.
Source: Medical Science Monitor, 2003
95% of women want to be informed of all risks of a medical procedure; 69% want to be informed of all alternatives
Source: Journal of Medical Ethics, July 2006
64% of women who experienced one or more abortions “felt pressured by others” to have the abortion.
Source: Medical Science Monitor, Oct. 2004
Think About This
in the United States alone
Why do women have abortions?
- 56% say it is not the right time for a baby, or a baby would interfere with future opportunities.
- 40% say they are not financially prepared to have a child.
- 31% say they do not want to be a single parent, or have relationship problems with husband or partner.
- Less than 2% say they became pregnant as a result of rape or incest.