Overview of abortion trends in the USA

Understanding Abortion in the U.S.: Insights and Perspectives

Recent data from Pew Research Center sheds light on various aspects of abortion in the U.S., offering valuable insights.

1. Public Opinion and Legal Status: In a post-Roe v. Wade landscape, public opinion is divided: 62% of U.S. adults believe abortion should be legal in most cases, while 36% oppose it. This split highlights the varied perspectives on this deeply personal issue.

2. Abortion Data Sources: Two primary sources provide national abortion data: the CDC and the Guttmacher Institute. Their methods differ, but both offer critical insights. The CDC's "abortion surveillance" reports date back to 1974, while Guttmacher's data comes from national surveys of abortion providers.

3. Annual Abortion Figures: In 2020, the CDC reported 620,327 legal abortions in the U.S., a slight decrease from the previous year. In contrast, Guttmacher's count was higher at 930,160, reflecting differences in data collection methods.

4. Long-term Trends: Abortion numbers peaked in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with a general decline since then. This trend has seen occasional increases, such as in the late 2010s.

5. Abortion Rate Among Women: The abortion rate per 1,000 women aged 15-44 has generally decreased since the early 1980s, with slight increases noted in the late 2010s.

6. Types of Abortion: There has been a significant shift towards medication abortions, with 53% of abortions in 2020 involving pills like mifepristone and misoprostol. This method is safe up to 10 weeks into pregnancy.

7. Abortion Providers: The number of facilities providing abortions in the U.S. has decreased since the 1980s, with 1,603 in 2020, including clinics, hospitals, and physicians’ offices. Most abortions are administered in clinics.

8. Cross-State Abortion: In 2020, 9.7% of abortions were performed on women from different states than where the abortion occurred. This percentage was significantly higher before Roe v. Wade.

9. Demographics: The majority of women who had abortions in 2020 were in their 20s and unmarried. Racial and ethnic data indicates that non-Hispanic Black women had the highest abortion rate per 1,000.

10. Timing of Abortions: Most abortions (93%) occur during the first trimester of pregnancy.

11. Complications and Safety: Abortion complications are relatively rare, with about 2% involving minor issues. The rate of fatal complications has significantly decreased over the years.

Full report at https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/01/11/what-the-data-says-about-abortion-in-the-u-s-2/