How many abortions are conducted annually in the US?
Executive summary
Recent reporting and specialist data projects estimate that U.S. abortions in 2024 ranged from roughly 1.05 million to 1.14 million, depending on the source and methodology: Guttmacher’s monthly provision studies and the Society for Family Planning’s #WeCount project report a national total near 1.14 million in 2024, while other longstanding series (CDC historical counts) lag and report much lower, earlier totals because of reporting delays and incomplete state submission [1] [2] [3].
1. Two competing national pictures: official surveillance vs. real‑time projects
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s formal surveillance system publishes annual counts with a multi‑year lag and incomplete state reporting; its most recent complete public release covers 2022 and shows far lower numbers than the newer, near‑real‑time estimates—CDC data are not current as of April 2025 due to staffing and reporting issues [2] [3]. By contrast, near‑real‑time initiatives such as the Society for Family Planning’s #WeCount aggregate monthly reporting from clinics, hospitals and telehealth providers and estimate 1.14 million abortions in 2024, a rise from 1.05 million in 2023 [1] [4] [2].
2. Why totals differ: methodology and coverage matter
Analysts disagree because data sources use different methods: CDC relies on state health department reports (with some states not reporting), Guttmacher combines provider surveys, modeling and state data for states without total bans, and #WeCount compiles monthly facility‑level submissions and imputes missing providers—each choice changes the total [5] [6] [4]. The Lozier Institute and other observers also caution that databases of brick‑and‑mortar clinics miss telehealth and informal channels, producing undercounts when those are excluded [7].
3. What recent studies say about the trend
Multiple independent analyses indicate abortions rose after 2022: #WeCount reports 1.14 million abortions in 2024 and a monthly peak above 102,000 in January 2024, while Guttmacher’s 2024 Monthly Abortion Provision Study documents stability in states without total bans but major state‑level shifts and substantial cross‑state travel for care [1] [6]. KFF’s synthesis likewise reports an increase from 1.05 million in 2023 to 1.14 million in 2024 based on #WeCount data [2].
4. Changing delivery modes: medication and telehealth matter
Reports highlight a rapid shift to medication abortion and telehealth that alters counting and access: Guttmacher and other analyses indicate medication abortion accounted for a majority of procedures by 2023–2024 and telehealth provision expanded dramatically, complicating comparisons with older clinic‑centric tallies [8] [9]. #WeCount and Guttmacher both incorporate telehealth data differently, affecting national totals [1] [6].
5. State differences and cross‑state travel reshape the landscape
National totals mask deep geographic variation: Guttmacher documents stable totals in states without total bans but sharp declines in states that implemented six‑week bans (Florida, South Carolina) and records roughly 155,000 people crossing state lines for abortion in 2024—about 15% of abortions in states without total bans [6]. #WeCount’s monthly state‑level data similarly show provider volumes shifting by state and season [1].
6. Sources’ perspectives and potential agendas
Each source carries implicit priorities: Guttmacher and #WeCount emphasize timely, provider‑level measurement and aim to capture telehealth and cross‑state flows; KFF summarizes and contextualizes these findings for policy audiences; advocacy organizations on both sides produce analyses that reflect their positions and may highlight specific risks or gaps—Arkansas Right To Life and National Right to Life critique reporting and emphasize pill‑safety concerns, while reproductive‑health groups focus on access trends [6] [2] [10]. Readers should weigh methods as much as headline totals.
7. What’s still unclear and limitations of current reporting
Available sources document large recent increases and provide specific 2024 estimates, but gaps remain: CDC’s official surveillance lags and may not be updated consistently going forward; imputation and non‑reporting can bias near‑real‑time estimates; and counts of abortions occurring outside formal systems are not uniformly captured [2] [4] [7]. Available sources do not mention any single, undisputed “official” 2024 total that reconciles every methodology.
8. Bottom line for readers
If you want the most up‑to‑date picture, use #WeCount and Guttmacher’s 2024 analyses that report roughly 1.14 million abortions in 2024 and document rising monthly volumes and expanded telehealth provision; if you need conservative, historically consistent series, CDC’s published surveillance (which currently lags) remains the official baseline but will understate recent volumes until reporting catches up [1] [6] [2].