United States Abortion Statistics

50,766,331 abortions 1973–2008

Reported abortions in the United States, by year

The Alan Guttmacher Institute (a special affiliate to Planned Parenthood), which actively collects the abortion data directly from providers.  All numbers reported are voluntary; there are no laws requiring abortionists to report to any national agency the numbers of abortions they perform. 2005-2008 are estimates of 1,206,200 annually. 

Americans’ views concerning abortion:

• 75% do not support the current abortion-on-demand policy, saying abortion should be legal only in some circumstances (53%), or illegal in all circumstances (22%).
                 Gallup Poll, May 2009
  
• 78% believe that women who have abortions commonly experience moderately severe to very severe negative emotional reactions to abortion.
                 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.
                 Journal of Medical Ethics, July 2006
  
• 64% of women who experienced one or more abortions “felt pressured by others” to have the abortion.
                 Medical Science Monitor, Oct. 2004

Why do women have abortions?

• 74% say having a baby would interfere with work, school, or other responsibilities.
• 73% say they cannot afford to have a child.
• 48% 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.
                 Source: The Alan Guttmacher Institute, Perspective on Sexual & Reproductive Health, Sept. 2005

The clock is ticking . . .

      One baby is aborted every 26 seconds

      137 babies are aborted every hour

      3,304 babies are aborted every day

      23,196 babies are aborted every week

      100,516 babies are aborted every month