Washington, D.C. – A recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center sheds light on Americans’ perspectives on abortion legality and other related issues. The survey, conducted nearly a year after the Supreme Court decision in June 2022 that ended the constitutional right to abortion, revealed that 62% of U.S. adults believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 36% believe it should be illegal in all or most cases. This data indicates that a significant portion of the American population holds varying views on the matter.
Data on abortion in the United States primarily comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Guttmacher Institute, both of which have been collecting national abortion data for over fifty years. The CDC’s annual “abortion surveillance” reports provide insights into abortion trends, with data dating back to 1974. However, since 1997, there have been gaps in the CDC’s data due to some states not reporting their abortion statistics to the agency.
Guttmacher Institute conducts national surveys of abortion providers every three years, obtaining data for the previous two years. Their comprehensive report for 2020, titled “Abortion Incidence and Service Availability in the United States, 2020,” includes estimates and trends in abortion data. The institute’s data on abortion has been widely cited by various groups and publications across the political spectrum.
One key aspect highlighted by the data is the decline in the number of abortions in the U.S. since the late 1980s and early 1990s. Both the CDC and Guttmacher report a decrease in the overall number of abortions, with the majority of abortions occurring in the first trimester of pregnancy. Additionally, the data shows that a significant percentage of women who undergo abortions are in their 20s and unmarried.
Furthermore, the data indicates a shift towards medication abortions, with a growing number of abortions being performed using pills rather than surgical procedures. The CDC and Guttmacher report an increase in the use of abortion pills over time, reflecting changes in abortion practices and technology.
Overall, the data on abortion in the U.S. provides valuable insights into the prevalence, demographics, and trends related to this sensitive topic. By analyzing data from reputable sources like the CDC and Guttmacher, researchers and policymakers can better understand the complex landscape of abortion in America and make informed decisions moving forward.