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U.S. Abortion Rates Show Marginal Decline Following Roe v. Wade Overturn

In a notable shift in reproductive health access, the number of abortions in the United States recorded only a slight decrease in 2022, the year marked by the Supreme Court’s monumental decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. This ruling returned the authority over abortion legislation back to individual states.

According to recent surveillance data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the total number of abortions declined by just 2% from 2021, dropping from approximately 622,000 to 609,000 in 2022. Furthermore, the abortion rate fell by 3%, while the abortion ratio saw a decrease of 2%.

Shifts in State Legislation

These figures come in the context of numerous Republican-led states imposing stringent abortion bans, although some exceptions remain in place for medical emergencies following the Supreme Court’s ruling. The impact of these legislative changes has been closely monitored, particularly as advocates on both sides of the debate express their perspectives.

Data indicates that the majority of abortions (over 70%) occurred early in pregnancy, particularly before the nine-week mark, aligning with prior trends observed before the Roe v. Wade decision was overturned. Early medication abortions continued to constitute a significant portion of the reported cases.

Timing and Demographics of Abortions

According to the CDC, around 6% of abortions took place between 14 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, while roughly 1% occurred at or after 21 weeks. Notably, women in their 20s accounted for more than half of the total abortions reported.

Previous Births Among Women Seeking Abortions