trends in abortion in the united states, 1973–2008 guttmacher institute © january 2011
TRANSCRIPT
Trends in Abortion in the United States, 1973–2008
Guttmacher Institute
© January 2011
The annual number of legal abortions increased through the 1970s, leveled off in
the 1980s, fell in the 1990s and is now stable
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
1,800
Number of abortions (in 000s)
1970: Abortion laws liberalized in 15 states*
Roe v. Wade, Jan. 22, 1973
Deaths associated with abortion declined dramatically after legalization
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
Number of abortion-related deaths
1970: Abortion laws liberalized in 15 states*
Roe v. Wade, Jan. 22, 1973
The abortion rate rose following nationwide legalization, began to decline in the 1980s
and is now stable
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44
The abortion rate among teenagers declined in the late 1980s and 1990s, and is now stable
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–19
White women account for the majority of abortions, but the proportion of abortions that are provided to
white women has declined steadily
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
0
20
40
60
80
100
% of abortions
White Nonwhite Black Other
The proportion of abortions obtained by Hispanic women increased
between 1991 and 2004
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 20040
20
40
60
80
100
% of abortions
Non-Hispanic Hispanic
Abortion rates are highest among black and Hispanic women
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44
Nonwhite Hispanic Black non-Hispanic WhiteWhite non-Hispanic Other non-Hispanic
Poor and low-income women account for an increasing share of U.S. abortions
1987 1994 2000 20080
20
40
60
80
100
% of abortions
<100% 100–199% 200–299% >300%
% of poverty
–
More than 80% of women having abortions are unmarried
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
0
20
40
60
80
100
% of abortions obtained by unmarried women
Since 1990, a majority of women having abortions have been mothers
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
0
20
40
60
80
100
% of abortions obtained by women who were mothers
Many women obtaining abortions have had a previous abortion, but the proportion has
stabilized over time
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
0
20
40
60
80
100
% of abortions obtained by women who had a previous abortion
Nearly 90% of abortions occur in the first three months of pregnancy
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
0
20
40
60
80
100% of abortions
<9 9–10 11–12 13–15 16–20 >21
Weeks since last menstrual period
Incidence of early medication abortion, 2008
• Early medication abortion accounted for 17% (199,000) of all abortions performed in nonhospital facilities, an increase from 6% in 2001
• An estimated one-quarter of eligible abortions (those performed up to nine weeks) were early medication abortions
• 59% of all known providers offered this service, compared with 33% in early 2001
The number of U.S. abortion providers declined steadily between 1982 and 2000, but appears to have been stable in recent years
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
No. of providers
Hospital providers Small nonhospital providers* Large nonhospital providers†
0% de-cline
11% decline 2%
decline
Facilities providing only medication abortion had a significant impact
• A minimum of 9% of all providers (164) offered only early medication abortion; most were nonspecialized clinics or physicians’ offices with small caseloads.
The percentage of U.S. counties with no
abortion provider remains high
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
0
20
40
60
80
100
% of counties with no provider
About one-third of women live in a county with no abortion provider
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
0
20
40
60
80
100
% of women aged 15–44 with no provider in their county
The inflation-adjusted cost of an abortion has remained relatively stable over time, despite
increased restrictions and a decline in demand
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
Average amount paid for abortion at 10 weeks ($)
Current dollars 2009 dollars
The number of states covering medically necessary abortions for women on Medicaid has
changed little over the past 20 years
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998*
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50No. of states
Fiscal year
36 states mandate parental involvement in a
minor’s decision to have an abortion
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50No. of states
Enforced Not in effect
For more information, visit www.guttmacher.org