Abortion in America: What the Latest Data Shows in 2024-2025
A clear, data-driven look at abortion access by state, post-Dobbs statistics, and what the numbers mean for Americans today
Key Takeaways
- ~1,038,100 abortions were performed in the US in 2024, up from 1,033,710 in 2023
- 93% of abortions occur in the first trimester (before 13 weeks)
- 63% of abortions are medication abortions using mifepristone and misoprostol
- 62% of Americans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases
- 155,000 people crossed state lines for abortion services in 2024
- States without total bans saw a 12% increase in abortions from 2020-2024
How Many Abortions Occur in the United States?
The United States saw approximately 1,038,100 abortions in 2024, according to the Guttmacher Institute’s Monthly Abortion Provision Study 1. This represents an increase from approximately 1,033,710 abortions in 2023 2. These figures represent the most comprehensive counting methodology in the United States, tracking abortions provided by clinics, private physicians, and telehealth providers.
The increase in total abortions nationwide occurred despite state-level bans that have restricted access across much of the country since the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. These post-Dobbs statistics highlight the changing landscape of abortion access by state. According to Guttmacher’s research, abortions in states without total bans increased by 12% from 2020 to 2024 3. States bordering ban states experienced particularly dramatic increases, with a 38% total increase in abortion provision during this period.
This surge in cross-state access reflects the geographic reorganization of abortion provision in post-Dobbs America, as patients and providers have adapted to a fragmented legal landscape. The post-Dobbs statistics reveal how abortion access by state has fundamentally changed the way Americans seek reproductive care.
When Do Most Abortions Occur?
Timing is a critical factor in abortion access and outcomes. According to the CDC’s Abortion Surveillance Report, approximately 93% of abortions in the United States occur in the first trimester, meaning before 13 weeks of pregnancy 4. This figure has remained remarkably consistent over decades of data collection.
The concentration of abortions in early pregnancy reflects several factors:
- Earlier detection of pregnancy through at-home tests and healthcare access
- Financial and logistical barriers that make later abortions more difficult to obtain
- State gestational limits that ban abortions after specific points in pregnancy
Abortions after 20 weeks represent a very small percentage of total procedures and typically involve complex medical situations where the pregnant person’s health or life is at risk.
Medication Abortion: The Dominant Method
Medication abortion using mifepristone and misoprostol has become the most common method of abortion in the United States. According to KFF data, more than six in ten (63%) abortions in the United States in 2023 were medication abortions, up from 53% in 2020 5.
This shift toward medication abortion has been accelerated by:
- FDA regulatory changes that expanded access to telehealth abortion services
- State-level protections that preserved or expanded medication abortion access
- Privacy advantages of being able to take pills at home
- State border proximity effects as patients in ban states sought medication abortion from providers in protected states
Telehealth abortion has emerged as a significant pathway to care. An estimated one in four abortions were provided via telehealth in the last quarter of 2024 6. This represents a dramatic shift in how abortion care is delivered, with patients in restrictive states able to connect with providers in states where abortion remains legal.
Cross-State Travel for Abortion
The post-Dobbs landscape has made cross-state travel a critical component of abortion access. Approximately 155,000 people crossed state lines for an abortion in 2024, representing 15% of all abortions provided in states without total bans 7.
This migration pattern has created significant implications:
- Disparate access based on financial resources and ability to travel
- Strain on providers in abortion-friendly states
- Legal complexity around how states can regulate residents who travel for care
- Disproportionate impact on low-income individuals, people of color, and those in rural areas
The Guttmacher Institute notes that states bordering ban states saw particularly large increases—38% from 2020 to 2024—as patients traveled to the nearest accessible providers 8.
Public Opinion on Abortion
Public opinion on abortion legality in the United States shows a majority favoring legal access. According to Pew Research Center, 62% of US adults say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 36% say it should be illegal in all or most cases 9.
This finding is consistent with Gallup tracking, which has shown similar proportions over time 10. The public opinion landscape includes:
- Strong support for abortion in cases of rape, incest, and threat to the pregnant person’s life
- More divided views on abortion in later pregnancies
- Shifting opinions based on specific circumstances and gestational limits
KFF’s polling confirms that a majority of Americans support maintaining legal access to abortion, though opinions vary on specific regulations and gestational limits 11.
Frequently Asked Questions About Abortion in the US
How many abortions are performed in the United States each year?
Approximately 1,038,100 abortions were performed in 2024, according to Guttmacher Institute data. This represents an increase from about 1,033,710 in 2023.
When do most abortions occur?
About 93% of abortions occur in the first trimester (before 13 weeks of pregnancy), according to CDC surveillance data.
What percentage of abortions are medication abortions?
63% of abortions in the United States are medication abortions using mifepristone and misoprostol, up from 53% in 2020.
How many people travel across state lines for abortions?
Approximately 155,000 people crossed state lines for abortion services in 2024, representing 15% of all abortions in states without total bans.
What percentage of Americans support legal abortion?
62% of Americans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, according to Pew Research Center polling.
Has abortion increased or decreased since the Dobbs decision?
Despite state bans, total US abortions have increased, with a 12% rise in states without total bans from 2020 to 2024. This is largely due to increased access in protective states and telehealth.
What is telehealth abortion?
Telehealth abortion involves consulting with a licensed provider via video or phone to receive medication abortion prescriptions. Approximately one in four abortions were provided via telehealth in late 2024.
Sources
- Guttmacher Institute – Monthly Abortion Provision Study (2024)
- Guttmacher Institute – Despite Bans, Number of Abortions in United States Increased 2023 (March 2024)
- Guttmacher Institute – Full-Year US Abortion Data 2024 (January 2025)
- CDC – Abortion Surveillance Report
- KFF – Key Facts on Abortion in the United States
- Guttmacher Institute – Year One Project 2025
- Guttmacher Institute – Cross-State Travel Data 2024
- Pew Research Center – What the Data Says About Abortion in the US (March 2024)
- Pew Research Center – Abortion Public Opinion (2024)
- Gallup – Abortion Polling
- KFF – Public Opinion on Abortion
Last updated: January 2025
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