Abortions from 1994 to 2024
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Executive summary
Abortion incidence in the United States fell for decades after the 1980–81 peak but rose again in 2023–24, with multiple data projects estimating between about 1.04 million clinician‑provided abortions in states without total bans (Guttmacher) and 1.14 million total abortions reported by the Society for Family Planning’s #WeCount in 2024 [1] [2]. Federal CDC surveillance through 2022 shows a long downward trend across the 2010s (a 5% decrease in counts from 2013–2022 among consistent reporters) but CDC stopped publishing full national updates past 2022 amid staff changes, leaving researchers to rely on Guttmacher, #WeCount and other compilations [3] [4].
1. A decades‑long decline, then a recent uptick
Abortion rates in the U.S. declined substantially from the 1980–81 high; multiple trackers show long‑term decreases through the 2010s. Even so, both Guttmacher and other sources document small increases in the late 2010s and early 2020s — for example Guttmacher reports a rise from 13.5 abortions per 1,000 women in 2017 to 14.4 in 2020 [5]. After the Dobbs decision and policy shocks, 2023–24 data indicate an overall rebound in abortion volume nationally, with Guttmacher and #WeCount reporting modest year‑over‑year increases in 2024 [1] [2].
2. How many abortions in 2024? Different measures, different answers
Counting abortions depends on source, method and which states are included. The Guttmacher Institute reported 1,038,100 clinician‑provided abortions in U.S. states without total bans in 2024 [1]. The Society for Family Planning’s #WeCount estimated 1.14 million abortions in 2024 — a higher figure that attempts broader capture, including telehealth and shield‑law provision into banned states [2]. KFF and media summaries consistently note a modest national increase in 2024 but also emphasize wide state variation [4] [6].
3. Why estimates diverge — methodology matters
Guttmacher uses provider surveys and modeling focused on clinician‑provided services in states without total bans; #WeCount aggregates monthly reporting from many providers, including telehealth and shield‑law activity, producing a larger national estimate [1] [2]. The CDC’s Abortion Surveillance historically relied on aggregate state reporting and by 2022 showed a modest decline from 2013–2022 across consistent reporters, but CDC datasets now lag and do not cover all jurisdictions, which complicates direct time‑series comparisons [3] [7].
4. The role of telehealth, medication abortion and cross‑state travel
A major change since 2020 is rapid growth in medication abortions and telehealth provision. Guttmacher and #WeCount report that medication abortion and telehealth expanded — in some states accounting for a majority of services — and that interstate travel increased dramatically, with roughly 155,000 people crossing state lines for care in 2024 and telehealth forming a larger share of provision [8] [2]. #WeCount and AP reporting also show telehealth’s share rose from about 1 in 20 pre‑Dobbs to roughly 1 in 4 by late 2024 [9] [2].
5. Geographic divergence masks the national story
Although national totals rose slightly in 2024, that aggregate conceals sharp state‑level shifts: some states saw steep declines in in‑state provision after new bans (for example, Florida’s six‑week ban drove a large drop there), while other states — and shield‑law providers — absorbed more out‑of‑state patients [6] [4]. Researchers and reporters stress that an overall uptick does not mean access improved uniformly; many states faced far fewer in‑state options [4] [10].
6. Limitations, gaps and what the sources do not say
CDC surveillance through 2022 remains a useful baseline but does not capture the post‑2022 surge in telehealth and shield‑law provision; CDC’s future reporting is uncertain after staff changes [7] [4]. Estimates do not consistently include self‑managed abortions (medication obtained without clinician involvement) and international mail‑order supplies, so total abortion incidence could be higher than clinician‑provided counts report; some sources explicitly note they exclude such cases [11] [5] [8].
7. What to watch next
Key indicators to follow are updates from Guttmacher and #WeCount on monthly volumes and telehealth trends, any CDC decision to resume comprehensive national surveillance beyond 2022, and state‑level data showing how bans, shield laws and telehealth rules alter flows of patients across borders [1] [2] [7]. Policymakers and researchers will need comparable, transparent methodologies to reconcile divergent totals and understand access disparities [3].
Sources: Guttmacher Institute (full‑year 2024 release) [1]; Society for Family Planning #WeCount [2]; CDC Abortion Surveillance (reporting through 2022) [3] [7]; Pew analysis and context on trends [5]; KFF and media summaries on 2024 increases and telehealth [4] [6]; Associated Press reporting on telehealth rise [9].