Legal abortions per 100 live births in the U.S. 1973-2021

The rate of legal abortions in the United States has decreased over the last few decades. In 2021, there were around 20.4 legal abortions per 100 live births, whereas the rate was 34 abortions per 100 live births in the year 1990. Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court in 2022, states within the U.S. have the right to severely limit or completely ban abortion if they wish, meaning that access to such procedures varies significantly depending on the state or region.

Abortion in the U.S.

In 2021, there were a over 626,000 legal abortions in the United States. Abortion rates in the U.S. are highest among women aged 20 to 24 years and more common among unmarried women than those who are married. In 2021, there were approximately 40 legal abortions per 100 live births among unmarried women compared to four abortions per 100 live births among women who were married.

Public opinion

The issue of abortion has been and remains a divisive topic among the general public and continues to be a relevant political issue. As of May 2023, around 44 percent of the population was estimated to be pro-life, while 52 percent were pro-choice and three percent mixed or neither. However, this distribution has fluctuated over the years, with pro-lifers accounting for a larger percentage than pro-choicers as recently as 2019.