Abortions performed annually

    B elow is a breakdown of the total abortions performed in the United States since the U. S. Supreme Court found that a woman was entitled to terminate an unwanted pregnancy in the 1973 landmark case Roe v. Wade.

~~~

1973    744,600

 
1974    898,600

 
  1975   1,034,200

  1976   1,179,300

  1977   1,316,700

 
  1978   1,409,600

  1979   1,497,700

  1980   1,553,900

 
  1981   1,577,300

 
  1982   1,573,900

 
  1983   1,575,000

 
  1984   1,577,200

 
  1985   1,588,600

  1986   1,574,000

  1987   1,559,100

  1988   1,590,800

  1989   1,566,900

  1990   1,608,600

 
  1991   1,556,500

  1992   1,528,900

  1993   1,500,000

  1994   1,431,000

  1995   1,363,690

  1996   1,365,730

  1997   1,365,730

  1998   1,365,730

  1999   1,365,730

  2000   1,310,000

  2001   1,328,000

  2002   1,312,990

  2003   1,312,990

  2004   1,312,990

Source:   

AGI - Alan Guttmacher Institute

CDC - Centers for Disease Control

NRLC - National Right To Life Committee

CIRTL - Central Illinois Right To Life

Why Abortions Are Performed

• The overwhelming majority of all abortions, (95%), are done as a means of birth control.

• Only 1% are performed because of rape or incest; 

• 1% because of fetal abnormalities;  

• 3% due to the mother's health problems.

             Source: Central Illinois Right To Life

Reasons Women Choose Abortion (U.S.) 

• Wants to postpone childbearing: 25.5%  

• Wants no (more) children: 7.9%  

• Cannot afford a baby: 21.3%  

• Having a child will disrupt education or job: 10.8%  

• Has relationship problem or partner does not want pregnancy: 14.1% 

• Too young; parent(s) or other(s) object to pregnancy: 12.2%  

• Risk to maternal health: 2.8%  

• Risk to fetal health: 3.3% 

• Other: 2.1%
  
  Source:  Bankole, Akinrinola; Singh, Susheela; Haas, Taylor. Reasons Why Women Have Induced Abortions: Evidence from 27 Countries. International Family Planning Perspectives, 1998, 24(3):117–127 & 152 As reported by:The Alan Guttmacher Institute Online:

Abortions per state

(AP) - Number of abortions per state in 1996, with the rate per 1,000 women:

• Alabama  14
   

• Alaska   15
   

• Arizona   11
   

• Arkansas  11
   

• California  39
   

• Colorado  11
   

• Connecticut  20
   

• Delaware   26
   

• District of Columbia   NA
   

• Florida   27
   

• Georgia   20
   

• Hawaii   19
   

• Idaho   4
   

• Illinois   20
   

• Indiana  10
   

• Iowa   12
   

• Kansas   19
   

• Kentucky   8
   

• Louisiana   12
   

• Maine    9
   

• Maryland   10
   

• Massachusetts   21
   

• Michigan   14
   

• Minnesota   13
   

• Mississippi   7
   

• Missouri   10
   

• Montana   15
   

• Nebraska   14
   

• Nevada   20
   

• New Hampshire   8
   

• New Jersey   18
   

• New Mexico   13
   

• New York   37
   

• North Carolina   20
   

• North Dakota   9
   

• Ohio   15
   

• Oklahoma   10
   

• Oregon   20
   

• Pennsylvania   15
   

• Rhode Island   24
   

• South Carolina   11
   

• South Dakota   6
   

• Tennessee   15
   

• Texas   21
   

• Utah   8
   

• Vermont   16
   

• Virginia  16
   

• Washington   21
   

• West Virginia    6
   

• Wisconsin   12
   

• Wyoming   2

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Abortions Worldwide

Number of abortions per year: Approximately 46 Million

Number of abortions per day: Approximately 126,000

Where abortions occur:

78% of all abortions are obtained in developing countries and 22% occur in developed countries.

Legality of abortion:

About 26 million women obtain legal abortions each year, while an additional 20 million abortions are obtained in countries where it is restricted or prohibited by law.

Abortion averages:

Worldwide, the lifetime average is about 1 abortion per woman.

Source: Center for Biochemical Reform

An American Holocaust