Transcript Abortion in the United States

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
Number of abortions (in 000s)
1,800
1970: Abortion laws liberalized in 15 states*
1,600
1,400
Roe v. Wade, Jan. 22, 1973
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
1969
1972
1975
1978
1981
1984
1987
1990
1993
1996
1999
2002
2005
2008
Deaths associated with abortion
declined dramatically after legalization
Number of abortion-related deaths
200
180
1970: Abortion laws liberalized in 15 states*
160
140
Roe v. Wade, Jan. 22, 1973
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
1965
1969
1973
1977
1981
1985
1989
1993
1997
2001
The abortion rate rose following nationwide
legalization, began to decline in the 1980s
and is now stable
Abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1973
1978
1983
1988
1993
1998
2003
2008
The abortion rate among teenagers declined in
the late 1980s and 1990s, and is now stable
Abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–19
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1973
1976
1979
1982
1985
1988
1991
1994
1997
2000
2003
2006
White women account for the majority of abortions,
but the proportion of abortions that are provided to
white women has declined steadily
% of abortions
100
80
60
40
20
0
1973
1976
1979
1982
White
1985
1988
Nonwhite
1991
Black
1994
Other
1997
2000
2003
The proportion of abortions obtained by
Hispanic women increased
between 1991 and 2004
% of abortions
100
80
60
40
20
0
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
Non-Hispanic
1998
1999
Hispanic
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Abortion rates are highest among black
and Hispanic women
Abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1973
1976
1979
Nonwhite
White
1982
1985
1988
1991
Hispanic
White non-Hispanic
1994
1997
2000
Black non-Hispanic
Other non-Hispanic
Poor and low-income women account for an
increasing share of U.S. abortions
% of abortions
100
80
60
40
20
0
1987
1994
<100%
2000
% of poverty
100–199%
200–299%
2008
>300%
–
More than 80% of women having
abortions are unmarried
% of abortions obtained by unmarried women
100
80
60
40
20
0
1973
1976
1979
1982
1985
1988
1991
1994
1997
2000
2003
Since 1990, a majority of women having
abortions have been mothers
% of abortions obtained by women who were mothers
100
80
60
40
20
0
1973
1976
1979
1982
1985
1988
1991
1994
1997
2000
2003
Many women obtaining abortions have had a
previous abortion, but the proportion has
stabilized over time
% of abortions obtained by women who had a previous abortion
100
80
60
40
20
0
1973
1976
1979
1982
1985
1988
1991
1994
1997
2000
2003
Nearly 90% of abortions occur in the
first three months of pregnancy
% of abortions
100
80
60
40
20
0
1973
1976
1979
1982
1985
1988
1991
1994
1997
Weeks since last menstrual period
<9
9–10
11–12
13–15
16–20
>21
2000
2003
2006
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
No. of providers
3,000
2,500
11% decline
2,000
0% decline
2% decline
1,500
1,000
500
0
1973
1978
Hospital providers
1983
1988
1993
Small nonhospital providers*
1998
2003
2008
Large nonhospital providers†
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
% of counties with no provider
100
80
60
40
20
0
1973
1978
1983
1988
1993
1998
2003
2008
About one-third of women live in a
county with no abortion provider
% of women aged 15–44 with no provider in their county
100
80
60
40
20
0
1973
1978
1983
1988
1993
1998
2003
2008
The inflation-adjusted cost of an abortion has
remained relatively stable over time, despite
increased restrictions and a decline in demand
Average amount paid for abortion at 10 weeks ($)
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009
Current dollars
2009 dollars
The number of states covering medically
necessary abortions for women on Medicaid has
changed little over the past 20 years
No. of states
50
40
30
20
10
0
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
Fiscal year
1998*
2002
2006
2010
36 states mandate parental involvement in a
minor’s decision to have an abortion
No. of states
50
40
30
20
10
0
1976
1982
1988
1994
Enforced
2000
Not in effect
2004
2007
2010
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