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Trends in Abortion in the United States, 1973–2005
Guttmacher Institute
© January 2008
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The annual number of legal abortions increased through the 1970s, leveled off in
the 1980s and fell in the 1990s
Number of abortions (in 000s)
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
1,800
1969 1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005
1970: Abortion laws liberalized in 15 states*
Roe v. Wade, Jan. 22, 1973
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Deaths from abortion declined dramatically after legalization
Number of abortion-related deaths
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
1965
1967
1969
1971
1973
1975
1977
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
1970: Abortion laws liberalized in 15 states*
Roe v. Wade, Jan. 22, 1973
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The abortion rate rose following nationwide legalization, but began to decline in the 1980s
Abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005
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The abortion rate among teenagers has been
declining since the late 1980s.
Abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–19
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003
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White women account for the majority of abortions, but the proportion of abortions that are provided to
white women has declined steadily
% of abortions
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003
White Nonwhite Black Other
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The proportion of abortions that are obtained by Hispanic women has increased over the
past decade
% of abortions
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Non-Hispanic Hispanic
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Abortion rates are highest among black and Hispanic women
Abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001
Nonwhite Hispanic Black non-Hispanic
White White non-Hispanic Other non-Hispanic
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Poor and low-income women account for more than half of U.S. abortions
% of abortions
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
1987 1994 2000
<100% 100–199% 200–299% >300%
% of poverty–
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More than 80% of women having abortions are unmarried
% of abortions
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003
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Since 1990, a majority of women having abortions have been mothers
% of abortions
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003
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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
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003
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Nearly 90% of abortions occur in the first three months of pregnancy.
% distribution of abortions
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
1973
1975
1977
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
<9 9–10 11–12 13–15 16–20 >21
Weeks since last menstrual period
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Incidence of early medication abortion, 2005
• Early medication abortion accounted for 13% (161,100) of all abortions, an increase from 6% in 2001
• An estimated 22% of eligible abortions (those performed up to 9 weeks) were early medication abortions
• 57% of all known providers offer this service, compared to 33% in early 2001
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The number of U.S. abortion providers rose until 1982 and has declined since
Number of providers
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005
Hospital providers Small nonhospital providers* Large nonhospital providers†
11% decline
2% decline
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Facilities providing only medication abortion had a significant impact
• A minimum of 119 providers, or 7% offered only early medication abortion; most were non-specialized clinics or physicians’ offices with small caseloads.
• The number of abortion providers would have decreased by 8% instead of 2% if not for these facilities.
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The percentage of U.S. counties with no
abortion provider has remained high
% of counties with no provider
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005
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About one-third of women live in a county with no abortion provider
% of women aged 15–44 with no provider in their county
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005
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After remaining stable for many years, the inflation-adjusted cost of an abortion rose in
2001, and then declined slightly in 2006 Average amount paid for abortion at 10 weeks ($)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005
Current dollars 2006 dollars (adjusted for Consumer Price Index)
$413 (2006)
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The number of states paying for medically necessary abortions for women on Medicaid has
not changed greatly over the past 20 years Number of states (including DC)
0
10
20
30
40
50
1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998* 2000 2002
Fiscal year
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For more information, visit www.guttmacher.org