Fact check: How many abortions have been performed in the United States this year compared to last year?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available data, abortion numbers in the United States increased from 2023 to 2024. Two major research organizations provide slightly different figures but both confirm an upward trend:

• The Society for Family Planning's #WeCount project reports 1.14 million abortions in 2024, up from 1.05 million in 2023 - representing an increase of approximately 90,000 abortions ^[1]
• The Guttmacher Institute reports 1,038,100 clinician-provided abortions in 2024 in states without total abortion bans, showing a less than 1% increase from 2023 ^[2]

The discrepancy between these figures likely reflects different methodologies and scope of data collection, with the #WeCount project appearing to capture a broader national picture including all states.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several crucial contextual elements that significantly impact the interpretation of these numbers:

• Geographic limitations: The Guttmacher Institute data specifically excludes states with total abortion bans, meaning the comparison doesn't reflect the complete national picture ^[2]
• Method of provision changes: There was a notable shift in how abortions were provided, with online-only clinics rising to 14% of all abortions in 2024 ^[2]
• Post-Dobbs context: These numbers represent trends following the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, which fundamentally altered the abortion landscape across different states ^[1]
• Data collection challenges: Different organizations use varying methodologies to track abortion numbers, which explains the numerical discrepancies between sources

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself is neutral and factual in nature, seeking comparative data between two years. However, the question's simplicity could lead to misleading interpretations without proper context:

• Oversimplification: Asking for a simple year-over-year comparison ignores the complex regulatory environment where some states have total bans while others have expanded access
• Incomplete scope: The question doesn't specify whether it seeks data from all states or only those where abortion remains legal, which significantly affects the answer
• Missing methodology context: Without understanding how different organizations collect and report this data, users might incorrectly assume all figures are directly comparable

The question would benefit from specifying geographic scope and acknowledging the post-Dobbs regulatory complexity that makes simple year-over-year comparisons potentially misleading.