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United States Abortion Statistics from 1973 to 2018

Abortions since 1973

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

Every 34 seconds
baby is aborted
Every hour
babies are aborted
Every day
babies are aborted

in the United States alone

Why do women have abortions?

  1. 56% say it is not the right time for a baby, or a baby would interfere with future opportunities.
  2. 40% say they are not financially prepared to have a child.
  3. 31% say they do not want to be a single parent, or have relationship problems with husband or partner.
  4. Less than 2% say they became pregnant as a result of rape or incest.