Legal abortions per 100 live births in the U.S. 1973-2019

The rate of legal abortions in the United States has decreased over the last few decades. In 2019, there were around 19.5 legal abortions per 100 live births, whereas the rate was 34 abortions per 100 live births in the year 1990. States within the U.S. have the right to enact laws that restrict the practice and availability of abortion, meaning that access to such procedures varies significantly depending on the state or region.

Abortion in the U.S.

In 2019, there were a over 630,000 legal abortionsin 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 2018, there were approximately 38 legal abortions per 100 live births among unmarried women compared to 4.4 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 2021, around 47 percent of the population was estimated to be pro-life, while 49 percent were pro-choice and 2 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.