Abortion - Statistics
- Jan 9, 2006 - 31
Who Has Abortions?
- Fifty-two percent of U.S. women obtaining abortions are younger than 25: Women aged 20-24 obtain 33 percent of all abortions, and teenagers obtain 19 percent.
- Black women are more than 3 times as likely as white women to have an abortion, and Hispanic women are 2 1/2 times as likely.
- Forty-three percent of women obtaining abortions identify themselves as Protestant, and 27 percent identify themselves as Catholic.
- Two-thirds of all abortions are among never-married women.
- Over 60 percent of abortions are among women who have had 1 or more children.
- On average, women give at least 3 reasons for choosing abortion: 3/4 say that having a baby would interfere with work, school or other responsibilities; about 2/3 say they cannot afford a child; and 1/2 say they do not want to be a single parent or are having problems with their husband or partner.
Facts In Brief: Induced Abortion [Accessed August 25, 2005]
The following facts are given by the Guttmacher Institute (Planned Parenthood) concerning abortion in America.
- Forty-nine percent of pregnancies among American women are unintended; 1/2 of these are terminated by abortion.
- In 2002, 1.29 million abortions took place, down from an estimated 1.36 million in 1996. From 1973 through 2002, more than 42 million legal abortions occurred.
- Each year, 2 out of every 100 women aged 15-44 have an abortion; 48 percent of them have had at least one previous abortion.
Adapted from Facts in Brief: Induced Abortion [Accessed August 26, 2005]
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in its latest statistics on abortions in America, reveals that the abortion industry is still in high demand.
A total of 853,485 legal induced abortions were reported to CDC for 2001 from 49 reporting areas, representing a 0.5 percent decrease from the 857,475 legal induced abortions reported by the same 49 reporting areas for 2000. The abortion ratio, defined as the number of abortions per 1,000 live births, was 246 in 2001, compared with 245 reported for 2000. This represents a 0.4 percent increase in the abortion ratio. The abortion rate was 16 per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years for 2001, the same as for 2000. For both the 48 and 49 reporting areas, the abortion rate remained relatively constant during 1997-2001.
The highest percentages of reported abortions were for women who were unmarried (82 percent), white (55 percent), and aged <25 years (52 percent). Of all abortions for which gestational age was reported, 59 percent were performed at <8 weeks' gestation and 88 percent at <13 weeks. From 1992 (when detailed data regarding early abortions were first collected) through 2001, steady increases have occurred in the percentage of abortions performed at <6 weeks' gestation. A limited number of abortions were obtained at >15 weeks’ gestation, including 4.3 percent at 16-20 weeks and 1.4 percent at >21 weeks. A total of 35 reporting areas submitted data stating that they performed medical (nonsurgical) procedures, making up 2.9 percent of all reported procedures from the 45 areas with adequate reporting on type of procedure. In 2000 (the most recent year for which data are available), 11 women died as a result of complications from known legal induced abortion. No deaths were associated with known illegal abortion.
Fact Sheet: Abortion Surveillance, 2001 [Accessed August 25, 2005]
“Abortions in Pennsylvania are still on the decline, following a national trend showing abortions at their lowest point in some states since the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision allowed virtually unlimited abortions. The new Pennsylvania figures show a decline of 2.4 percent in 2004.
“According to new data from the state’s health department, Pennsylvania abortions went down from 36,030 in 2003 . . . The all time high for the number of abortions was in 1980, when there were 65,777 abortions. That’s twice as many as occurred in 1999 . . . Looking at other states, Minnesota’s abortion numbers are down to their lowest totals since 1975. The number of abortions performed on Kansas women has declined 10 percent since 1996 and abortions in Kentucky have been steadily dropping for more than a decade with 3,502 in 2002 and 9,590 in 1991.
“New statistics in the state of Illinois show a whopping 10 percent drop in the number of abortions performed last year. The new numbers take the state to its lowest number of annual abortions in thirty years.
“Since 1988, abortions have dropped a whopping 53 percent in South Carolina. After peaking at 8,814 in 1991, the number of abortions in 2002 in Mississippi fell to just 3,605.”
Steven Ertelt, Pennsylvania Abortions Continue to Decline, Pregnancy Help Cited (LifeNews.com), August 17, 2005
Further Learning
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comments
1 On Jan 9th, 2009, at 11:58am, Annie Montgoemry wrote:
Some have listed in thier comments above excuses as to why a women can have an abortion. One I read said that if the mother smokes and drinks then she can have an aborion, how sad. Fellow women, please remember that in choosing to have sex when you know you cannot take care of the baby or whatever that you should not have sex. Remember to be responsible for your actions. Yes, you have free agency but that is coupled with responsibiltiy. Your babies can always go up for adoption, and that can be a great blessing not only to your baby but to a couple that can’t have children. I want to also state that while this is a contraversail subject none of us should act out of hate to the other person. I feel it is important to express your concern, but not to the point of loosing love for that person. Let us all be better, and fight to stop abortion.
2 On Jan 15th, 2009, at 9:42am, Vanessa wrote:
I myself do not believe in abortion however some do i believe that abortion should only be aloud if a person is raped or can be physicallly harmed(death)by having the baby.However i do feel as though who are we 2 judge someone who gets an abortion ya most of us don’t believe in it and think it is morally wrong but we do not know what that person is feeling or thinking at that moment.Let the good lord judge not us. And remeber that everyone has there own opion and outlook on life:)
Help Us STOP ABORTION Apporaitely
3 On Jan 15th, 2009, at 3:44pm, lew wrote:
Hi Vanessa,
I agree everyone has an opinion, but not all opinions are right. However, what matters is whether we do as The Lord wants us to do.
We are to judge. We judge right from wrong. Don’t put your hand on the stove jr. Don’t have pre-martial sex honey. Don’t give alcohol to underage children. Don’t get drunk. Don’t lie, don’t steal. All of these choices are judgement calls. One is right. One is wrong. It should be done in a loving way though.
The judging we’re NOT supposed to do and ultimately cannot, is to give out the punishment. That judgement alone is The Lord’s.
4 On Jan 24th, 2009, at 2:08pm, Kristin wrote:
Abortion doesn’t make you “un”-pregnant. It makes you the mother of a dead baby.
5 On Jan 25th, 2009, at 1:22pm, Taylor E Scoggin wrote:
In The Scott Peterson case. He was charged with 2 murder charges. One for the murder of his wife and the other for the murder of his unborn child. Why is he being charged with the murder of his unborn child and mothers who are having abortions are not be charged? This is a question that has be with me for a while. Abortion is murder. Murder is illegal. Pro-Life.
6 On Jan 26th, 2009, at 12:13pm, Traci Daly wrote:
Hello Everyone.
I am 16, I have never had an abortion. I have never had a boyfriend, i have never had sex, I have never kissed anyone. I myself am living to glorify Jesus in everything I say and do. What the real problem of abortion (in my opinion) is that everyone sees it in their own eyes. God sees everyone and their hearts. We all just need to let our voices be heard. As far as i can see, everyone i think is all agreeing that abortion is wrong on all of the comments. So let everyone know that it’s wrong. Pray, spend time with our Father God. Pray that he will guide your words so you know exactly what to say. I am not commanding anyone to believe me or do as i am saying, but as far as i can see, Obama is president and i respect him, i just don’t agree with what he agrees with. He wants to make abortion legal (from my understanding) in all states. We need to let the world know the truth of the gospel. that is all i want to say.
7 On Feb 3rd, 2009, at 2:26pm, kerri wrote:
personally i believe that it is wrong to get an abortion, but you no if a women gets raped i believe it may be okay…because honstely if YOU were the women who got raped you may not want to keep it…so i think that we should all agree to disagree.
8 On Feb 9th, 2009, at 5:33pm, Melisa wrote:
I believe that abortion is a win-lose situation…
Ask yourself would you want to wake up for 9 months of your life being reminded of the day you got reped… If that was the case?
I know that I wouldn’t want to be. Abortion is not killing a baby, because the baby is not living when you have the abortion. The baby is not living until so many days to weeks after the pregnancy starts.
9 On Feb 10th, 2009, at 9:56am, Cori wrote:
Actually, the baby is alive from the point of conception. The only thing that changes is it’s size and developmental level, which both continue to change until adulthood.
10 On Feb 15th, 2009, at 7:03pm, Stephanie C wrote:
Greetings! I’m Stephanie and I’m 18. Over half of the abortions in the United States are because people didn’t want the child. Some people can’t afford another mouth to feed, some people for focusing on their career. But you know, abortion isn’t the only way out. Adoption is an option, too.
Instead of spending our time discussing “I’m right. You’re wrong.” why don’t we just promoting the opposite of abortion?
I personally believe that abortion is wrong. It’s murder, but instead of discussing my views against your views, I’d rather endorse adoption. Instead of arguing your opinion, why not spend your time getting involved? Building up another institution?
I urge you to pray.
11 On Mar 3rd, 2009, at 3:04pm, karianne schoebel wrote:
abortion is a rude and crude way of showing responibility. if that women decides that she is able to have sex the she should be able ot make the decision that she has to care of that human being. that womens mother didnt decide to have an abortion with them and thats the reason that they are here to decide to have one! why not give that child hte oppurtunity to experience life like your mother gave you?!?!?! the way that abortion should be ok is if a young girl is raped and that baby can damage her body…
12 On Mar 8th, 2009, at 7:37pm, ally wrote:
I agree with Ms. Stephanie… the point in voicing our opionion is not to push our ideas on other people but to speak on behalf of our own personal values. And quite personally I do believe that abortion should be the very last step to take when a pregnancy is not planned/wanted. If we have sex we should then knowingly accept the consequences of our actions, however, I look at the world today and notice these newer generations growing up and I can’t help but think that if a child is not givin up for adoption or miscarried that unless you can provide time, food, shelter, clothes for a child you shouldn’t raise one. I mean, yes it is cruel to take away the life of a child…but if you can’t even raise it to be respectful, inquisitive, somewhat patient and most importantly give the child what it Needs isn’t that the same as not giving them life anyways..?
13 On Mar 9th, 2009, at 12:24pm, lewr wrote:
Ally,
Jesus said in Matthew 28. 18-20
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Seems like we should push the ideas instead of sitting on our butts not doing so.
14 On Mar 9th, 2009, at 4:57pm, Stephanie C wrote:
I understand your point, but I do not agree with it. Abortion, no matter how you look at it, is wrong and it’s murder. Whether it’s unplanned or it’s rape, the child did nothing wrong. It’s not their fault. Why should they be punished? The mom-to-be has no right to choose to end the child’s life. God made that precious life. Who are we to decide if it’s worthy of life or not?
These issues are very dear to my heart. You see, I was almost aborted. My birthmother couldn’t afford to keep me and she almost terminated her pregnancy. But she didn’t. She gave me up for adoption. She gave me life and then sparred my life.
I believe that abortion would stop if people just asked themselves “What if it were me? What if it were me?”
What if it were you?
15 On Mar 10th, 2009, at 6:31pm, lew wrote:
This issue is no different than any other issue. People with a secular worldview will say that it’s ok, and it’s up to the person, while people with a biblical worldview, will say WE have a personal responsibility.
Take for the economy for example. People want to blame the banks, Obama, Bush, Congress or any other person, place or thing for our economic issues. And, quite honestly, each has a part to play. However, the person to blame in most cases, is ourselves.
We purchased too much
We went over the credit card limits
We elected the people in congress
We purchase overpriced stocks
We purchase overpriced houses
Nobody pointed a gun at heads!
Same with abortion in MOST cases!
Nobody pointed a gun at people’s heads to have sex!
16 On Mar 18th, 2009, at 10:32pm, Ashley wrote:
For the comment about Jesus:
He practically was aborted. God killed his only son for everyone elses sins on earth. God forgives. Abortion can be considered a sin, a mistake, whatever but i truely believe that if God did not want those fetus’s aborted he wouldnt have allowed it.
And Second for all of you who think abortion should be illegalized:
That will never happen, abortion will never be illegalized because of the Constitution of the United States of America. When it was created it prohibits “establishment of religion” which means the “seperation of church and state”. im sorry to say but unless someone rewrites the Constitution (which wont happen) this will always stand.
Thats fact.
17 On Mar 19th, 2009, at 8:24am, Corinne Lawrence wrote:
To note #193 - Ashley, you’ve got to be kidding me! Separation of church and state is supposed to make abortion legal? First of all, study your history - that separation was supposed to protect the church from the state, not the other way around. Secondly, abortion rights are not about religious rights - but about human rights. The only question is whether a fetus is human, and science has definitively prove that it is. So, can you think of ANY instance in which it is legal for one individual to deliberately kill another human being, aside from self defense? Of course not. Our founding documents also guarantee the right to life - but apparently you’re okay with re-writing that part.
18 On Mar 19th, 2009, at 10:43am, Ashley wrote:
Lawrence, you obviously did not do you complete research. I did not say seperation of church and state makes abortion legal. I said that is the reason that it cannot be made illegal and this is because the U.S. does not run on religion (no establishment of religion). If we did have that I’m sure things would be different and those founding documents would have been written differently. But were always talking about abortion and how wrong it is. Lets look at the children wandering the streets because their parents do not care enough about them. Is that not the same thing? Or Genocide that is going on in other countries, where those people actually acknowledge their existence and know they are about to die? These fetus’s cannot acknowledge their existence so how could they be considered a person if us people do?
I do understand your side and I am not for abortion by anymeans.
19 On Mar 19th, 2009, at 11:34am, Ashley wrote:
I’m simply pro-chioce. I believe in first trimester abortion, none of that partial birth abortions or 2nd trimester abortions. I just think not very many people are educated (not saying your not) about this subject and just spit opinions based on what their parents think. We never have our own opinions, we know what we grew up with. No ones opinion is right or wrong it is just what is on our mind.
91% of all abortions happen in the first trimester.
20 On Mar 20th, 2009, at 11:37am, Stephanie C wrote:
Ashley
How is first trimester abortion different than second or partial birth abortions? It’s still a life. It’s still murder.
And “separation of church and state” doesn’t appear anywhere in the Constitution. That term was found in a letter the Thomas Jefferson wrote concerning the protection of the church. Now, it appears that the state, who is “protecting” the church, is now devouring it. And our nation WAS built on religion. It’s built on God. Our founding fathers wanted us to have freedom to worship God. That was the basis of the Constitution. “One nation under God”. The words “IN GOD WE TRUST” are printed on every dollar and coin.
Our country was founded in and on and with God from the very beginning. We’ve simply allowed ourselves to be uprooted.
21 On Mar 23rd, 2009, at 6:29pm, conner creech wrote:
I love the women have the right to choose argument. i say let em’ choose they want equall rights let em’ have them, but i want to choose what i want to do with my body to…so why can’t i go around killing innocent people who have no control over me oh my bad probably because it’s MURDER!!! and even more it sounds a lot like abortion the killing of innocent people who have no control over the situation. So once again America contradicts itself by saying killing is wrong but it openly allows the killing of innocent children…just think of the doctors, lawyers, future presidents, and many more that have been killed.
22 On Mar 24th, 2009, at 7:58am, Arnold wrote:
I am sick to my stomach reading some of these comments. Some of you haven’t done an ounce of real research! Do you know what abortion/infanticide really is? The procedures? The dire consequences woman suffer on and off the operation table? The feelings of hurt and regret? The haunting dreams? The list goes on! I am PRO LIFE because i care about the quality of life for woman and children. The government has nothing to do with this! Wake up! People are dying mentally, physically, emotionally, and internally. Read the testimonies! Im not imagining this! Abortion and all the damage it does is real! And if i hear another comment about not having time…Jesus! Let me leave before i write another paper. Educate yourselves people and make an educated decision about this murder.
23 On Mar 24th, 2009, at 12:20pm, tay wrote:
abortion is cruel, sick, and foul.
i strongly agree with the person that said that aboortion is just as bad as child abuse. it is taking away the childs life.
people, if you have an unwanted child, put him/her up for adoption -at least you are giving your child a chance for life.
24 On Mar 24th, 2009, at 12:53pm, Sam wrote:
If you choose abortion that is the right of the person who choose it. If you don’t like abortions then don’t have one and don’t preach the bible to someone who has had one. They made a choice and sometimes those people regret it. Everyone is entitled to their opinions.
And this country could be based around religion but is not based on a religion. If it was, and I’m only using this as an example, then we would be like Iraq, whose religion is muslim. If anyone over their is worshiping any God other than Ala(sp) then they would probably be in trouble. In America we can choose no God, we can choose to be catholic or baptist or anything we want. Abortion is just one of those topics no one will probably ever agree on.
25 On Mar 24th, 2009, at 9:56pm, lew wrote:
Sam,
This argument really doesn’t need to be about ‘religion’. It’s about whether taking life is ‘ok’. If it, what is the cut off date and why? Can a mother who doesn’t want their 2 day old murder the child then? What about a 97 year old great grandfather? Do we have the right to off them as well?
By the way, where in the Consitution does it say it’s ‘ok’ to murder the unborn?
26 On Mar 25th, 2009, at 6:06am, MODERATOR wrote:
MODERATOR’s NOTE:
Due to the high volume of comments on this article (200+), we’ve eliminated all comments before 2009 in an effort to make room for new voices and further conversation.
Thank you all for continuing the conversation!
27 On Mar 25th, 2009, at 12:10pm, Stephanie C wrote:
Sam, you’re absolutely right. We probably will never agree on the issue of abortion. Abortion isn’t a political issue; it’s a moral issue, and we have so many conflicting morals, or lack thereof. We’ve created our own system of morals. Is abortion okay or is it murder? “Well, according to what I believe…”. No. It’s not up to us. It’s up to God. If only we’d put aside our intellect, our views, ourselves, and we looked to God, I think the answer would be very plain. Have we forgotten God and His laws? For that matter, you could find God’s answer in His character.
We live in a nation, a time, of compromise. We need to go back to the basics. We need to go back to Truth. We need to go back to God. And only then can our problems be solved.
28 On Mar 30th, 2009, at 7:02pm, Melissa Marie Turner wrote:
I am pro-life and I really feel abortion is considered murder. The Bible states thou shalt not kill. I am writing a speech for my public speaking class at my college and I saw photo after photo of aborted babies. Tears came to my eyes. These women are not being informed. No one is like me and I am not you. I feel that we as christians need to educate these women. The women that do abort if most of them would tell their stories they would say not to do it. Proverbs 24:11 says this; Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering towards slaughter. This is some bits of information I found on http://www.christianaction.org.za/articles/abortion.htm written by Rev. Dr. Peter Hammond. Six weeks after conception the baby has its own life- long brain wave. If the absence of a brain wave is considered a sign of death, why then is the presence of this brain wave not accepted as a confirmation of life?
29 On Apr 14th, 2009, at 12:18am, Jessi wrote:
Dr. John Witherspoon, who wrote, “I entreat you in the most earnest manner to believe in Jesus Christ, for there is no salvation in any other [Acts 4:12]. ...”
Dr. Benjamin Rush, an innovator of mass-produced Bible printing, initiator of the Sunday school movement in America and founder of the first Bible society in our nation.
John Dickinson, also a signer of the U.S. Constitution, who wrote in his will: “Rendering thanks to my Creator for my existence and station among His works, for my birth in a country enlightened by the Gospel and enjoying freedom, and for all His other kindnesses, to Him I resign myself, humbly confiding in His goodness and in His mercy through Jesus Christ for the events of eternity.”
John Hancock, first governor of Massachusetts, who issued at least 24 calls for public fasting and prayer and urged people to pray and fast about their fellow citizens becoming Christians.
This is not fallacy; it is our history. But it is a history that is being
30 On Apr 19th, 2009, at 10:34am, Megan wrote:
You know, by the third week of birth the baby has a heart beat? and by the fifth week the baby starts to grow thier brain? and on average the woman finding out when they are pregnant is between 6-9 weeks, usually when morning sickness starts occuring, if they get it at all. if not they find out later. whne they skip their period. so by time they all find out, hey im having a kid.i dont want it.its already a human. a living organism. thats murder. technically first degree murder. the baby is innocent.right?exactly. the baby didnt ask to be concieved. if you didnt want to have a kid, then keep your legs closed. if your raped, its called adoption. there are many women out there that just cannot have babies. their willing to love and care and raise that child with everything they have! either way if your raped your gunna be scared for life.its the most tragic thing to happen to a woman.dont murder a poor innocent child for your own actions. grow up and look at yourself.are you a murderer?
31 On Apr 20th, 2009, at 12:44pm, Chris wrote:
Abortion is a right and rights are very important to all Americans. Relinquishing any right for any reason is poor judgment. An abortion is a legal medical procedure and the choice to have one is solely that of the woman in need. Women seeking an abortion do not enter into this discussion lightly and therefore should not be judged or persecuted for doing so. I believe the laws that are in place that mandate guidelines for abortions are worst than the actual abortion. The limitation and burden put on these women that need an abortion violate the Roe vs. Wade ruling and should be overturned. Our goal is to limit abortions, this being the case we need to focus our efforts in the correct arena; it should be in the sex education information. If we educate our young people on how to prevent pregnancies through birth control and contraceptives we would have far fewer abortions. Along with the education we need to provide birth control and contraceptives to them.