United States Abortion Statistics

54,559,615 abortions 1973–2011

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. 2009-2011 are estimates of 1,212,400 annually. 

Americans’ views concerning abortion:

• 79% do not support the current abortion-on-demand policy, saying abortion should be legal only in some circumstances (68%), or illegal in all circumstances (11%).
                 Marist Poll, December 2011
  
• 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

To learn more, read about Minnesota abortions statistics.