Fewer U.S. women are having abortions than at any time since Roe v. Wade, according to new government figures released Wednesday.
In 2015, the most recent year for which data is available, a total of 638,169 abortions were reported, a decrease of 2 percent from 652,639 abortions in 2014. The abortion rate was 11.8 abortions per 1,000 women ages 15-44 in 2015, compared with 12.1 in 2014 and 15.9 in 2006.
In the years immediately after abortion was legalized nationwide in 1973, the number of legal abortions rose dramatically, reaching its peak in the 1980s. Abortions then began dropping at a slow rate until around 2006 to 2008, when they increased slightly, followed by even greater decreases in recent years.
While the CDC paper did not delve into the reasons for the decline, analysts have cited improved access to birth control, which has led to a decrease in unintended pregnancies, especially among teens, as well as the state laws regarding parental consent, waiting periods and other conditions that make it more difficult for women to get abortions.
Chuck Donovan, president of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, the research arm of Susan B. Anthony List, which opposes abortion, added other possible causes: “a higher percentage of women today decide to carry an unexpected pregnancy to term, teenagers are less sexually active and with fewer partners, pro-life views are more prevalent among the rising generation than they were 40 years ago.”
He called the decline “sharp and consistent” and pointed out that the U.S. abortion rate is half of what it was in 1980.
The data is isn’t 100 percent complete — California, Maryland and New Hampshire did not participate, and the reporting is better in some places than others — but it nonetheless provides a window into the overall trends and demographics of who is seeking abortions. The report shows tremendous variation by age, race and geographic region.
While the abortion rate decreased across all age groups in 2015, women in their 20s accounted for nearly 60 percent of all abortions. The abortion rate was 19.9 for women ages 20-24 and 17.9 for ages 25-29.
White women had the lowest abortion rate, at 6.8 abortions per 1,000 women, and black women had the highest abortion rate at 25.1 per 1,000. “The findings in this report indicate that the number, rate, and ratio of reported abortions have declined across all race/ethnicity groups but that well-documented disparities persist,” Tara C. Jatlaoui, from the CDC’s division of reproductive health, and co-authors wrote.
Full story at Washington Post.
Prayers to God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) are heard. Prayers to The Blessed Mother for intercession are even more efficacious. In the spirit of the campaign by Relevant Radio for 200 million Memorares to end abortion, let us always be reminded thatr:
“Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, [we] fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do [we] come, before thee [we] stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not [our] petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer [us].
Amen.”
Whenever I read statistics about the declining number of abortions, I have to question whether they include non-surgical abortions. The reported numbers seem to have declined since the advent of the abortion pill, so it would be good to know if those numbers were included.
L.J. Joan,
I’ve thought exactly the same thing. Regardless, I’ve also been reading reports that younger millennials date at significantly lower rates than all prior generations – thus less sex and less abortion. I hate to harp on this, but the cause is undoubtedly very high iPhone/social media usage.
Simple put – dating is a high risk social proposition. Younger millennials simple don’t have enough face-to-face contact to negotiate this social hurdle.
It seems to me, and I may be wrong, that though these statistics, if correct, indicate a low in abortions, it still seems that women vote for the right to choose to have an abortion. Not having an abortion does not necessarily harmonize with the fact that the taking of life in the womb is absolutely wrong. This could be the evil of relativism at work. While they may personally not choose to approve of abortion, it seems that women will support a position that gives them the choice. This is the most divisive issue in politics today and separates the camps based on this issue. When I say “women:, please do not think I categorize all women as holding this position. Obviously, that is incorrect as I do not want to minimize the heroic, at…
The CDC does not report accurate abortion numbers. There are many states that do not report to them. Go to Guttmacher for a closer number to reality. For example, Guttmacher reported “Approximately 926,200 abortions were performed in 2014” vs the CDC’s reported 652,639 abortions in 2014 (as sited in the above article). Guttmacher’s numbers are more accurate but still underestimate the total number of abortions in our country.
This is a great news. Let us continue praying for a cause.