Abortion Statistics

If you are considering abortion, or just curious about the statistics, read on. Here you will find out who is having abortions, when they are having abortions, and why they are having abortions.

Who?

In the U.S., there are approximately 1.37 million abortions performed every year. Usually these are performed on young women below the age of 25. About 52% of all U.S. abortions are performed on women in this age range.

When talking about race, 60% of all abortions are performed on white women. However, this rate is below the abortion rate of minority women. Hispanics are twice as likely, and black women are three times as likely to have an abortion as white women. It may shock you to know that all U.S. woman have a 43% chance of having an abortion before they turn 45. That number is pretty high.

When?

Over half (52%) of all abortions are performed before the 9th week of pregnancy. Only 5% of all abortions occur after the 16th week of pregnancy. By this time, the fetus is larger and the abortion procedure is much more invasive and dangerous.

Why?

Amazingly, 93% of all abortions are reportedly performed for social reasons. For instance, the abortion is performed because it was an unplanned/unwanted pregnancy. Only 1% of the abortions are performed following a rape, and 6% occur due to health risks.

Worldwide, statistically, each woman will have one abortion during her lifetime. In the U.S. that statistic is slightly different.