Topline
The number of abortions carried out in the U.S. rose in 2020 after hitting a 44-year low in 2017, according to a study published on Wednesday, a finding that comes before a widely expected Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Anti-abortion and pro-abortion rights demonstrators protest in front of the U.S. Supreme Court … [+]
Key Facts
According to the Guttmacher Institute’s Abortion Provider Census, a total of 930,160 abortions were carried out in the U.S. in 2020, an 8% rise from 2017, when the last report was published.
A total of 862,320 abortions were carried out in 2017, which was the lowest level reported since 1973.
Around one in every five (20.6%) pregnancies ended in abortion in 2020, up from 18.4% in 2017, the census found.
While abortions rose across all regions of the country from 2017 to 2020, the West reported the steepest increase with 12%, followed by the Midwest with a 10% rise.
Abortions rose by 8% in the South while the Northeastern United States reported the smallest increase with 2%.
While abortion rates went up between 2017 and 2020, birth rates also declined by 6%, which according to the study indicates that fewer people are getting pregnant and among those who are, “a larger proportion chose to have an abortion.”
Surprising Fact
The state of Mississippi, which only has one abortion clinic, reported a 40% rise in abortions between 2017 and 2020. This steep rise, according to the Guttmacher Institute, can be attributed to more residents obtaining abortion care within the state as neighboring states have tightened access.
Crucial Quote
The Guttmacher Institute in its report noted the impact of the Supreme Court’s likely decision to overturn Roe v. Wade could be “even more devastating than predicted by prior analyses” as more people seek access to abortions. “An increase in abortion numbers is a positive development if it means people are getting the health care they want and need. Rather than focusing on reducing abortion, policies should instead center the needs of people and protect their right to bodily autonomy,” the report adds.
Big Number
26. That is the total number of states that the Guttmacher Institute expects will ban access to abortion care if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. Thirteen of those states already have so-called “trigger bans” in place which will immediately go into effect once the Supreme Court overturns the landmark law.
Key Background
According to a leaked draft opinion published by Politico last month, the Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed abortion rights nationwide. The leaked opinion, signed by conservative Justice Samuel Alito, labels the 1973 landmark ruling “egregiously wrong” and says both it and Planned Parenthood v. Casey—a separate 1992 case that also upheld abortion rights—“must be overruled.” The court’s official ruling on the matter is expected to come out before the end of its current term in July.
Further Reading
US abortions rise: 1 in 5 pregnancies terminated in 2020 (Associated Press)
26 States Are Certain or Likely to Ban Abortion Without Roe: Here’s Which Ones and Why (Guttmacher Institute)
Here’s What Will Happen If The Supreme Court Overturns Roe V. Wade (Forbes)
Here’s How Cities In States Planning To Ban Abortion Are Fighting Back (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/06/15/abortion-rates-in-the-us-rose-in-2020-after-30-years-of-decline-report-says/