Abortion is a safe and common part of reproductive healthcare. Research shows that 95% of people who have abortions say it was the right decision, and the most common emotion they report is relief (PLOS One, 2015). According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2018), abortion care is safe at every stage of pregnancy and has a complication rate lower than childbirth or even getting your wisdom teeth removed.

More people are getting abortions, despite increasing restrictions.

According to the Society of Family Planning’s #WeCount project, more people have gotten abortions in the years since Dobbs v. Jackson than before. People are finding safe, effective, and supported ways to get the care they need—whether by traveling for in-clinic care or ordering abortion pills online.

• 1.14 million abortions were reported in the U.S. in 2024 — more than in 2023 or 2022.
• The monthly average rose from 80,000 (2022) → 88,000 (2023) → 95,000 (2024)
• 1 in 4 abortions in 2024 was provided via telehealth. About half of these abortions occurred under shield laws—legal protections for providers in supportive states who mail abortion pills to patients in states with bans.
• By late 2024, it was reported that 12,330 abortions per month were provided under shield protection.
• Independent clinics remain a cornerstone of abortion care. According to the Abortion Care Network’s Communities Need Clinics report (2024), independent providers make up 62% of all U.S. clinics that offer abortion after the first trimester.

💡 These numbers only reflect abortions that could be tracked through participating providers. The real number is likely higher—community networks, mutual aid groups, and informal providers offering abortion pills are not included in this dataset.

Who gets abortions?

Abortion is a normal part of reproductive health care for people across ages, genders, and life experiences.

• Parents: Nearly 6 in 10 abortion patients already have at least one child (KFF, 2022).
• Young people: Teens and young adults often reach care later in pregnancy due to barriers like cost, travel, and parental involvement laws.
• Trans and nonbinary people: Research confirms that transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse people also need abortion care (PubMed).

Abortion is care for anyone who can become pregnant—and everyone deserves safety, privacy, and respect in how they access it.

When abortions happen—and why barriers push people later

Most abortions happen early in pregnancy. About 90% take place before 12 weeks. Generally, abortions become less common with each passing week of pregnancy.

But many people are unable to get care as soon as they would like. Barriers like travel distances, waiting periods, funding limits, and bans are pushing more people later into pregnancy before they can get an abortion (PMC, 2022).

Learn more about abortions later in pregnancy at Who Not When.

Public support for abortion access remains strong

Most people in the United States support the right to make their own decisions about pregnancy and abortion care. Recent polls show this support is steady and widespread.

A March 2024 Axios/Ipsos poll found:

• More than 70% of Americans say medication abortion should stay legal, including majorities from both major political parties.
• Most people believe patients should be able to get abortion pills from a doctor or clinic, no matter where they live or how they vote.
• Only a small minority support new limits on FDA-approved abortion medication.

Other national surveys show the same pattern:

• An ABC News/Washington Post poll found that 78% of adults believe the decision to have an abortion should be between the patient and their doctor.
• A Fox News poll reported that 70% of voters support access to abortion pills.
• And the trend isn’t new. PRRI’s American Values Atlas shows long-term stability: 66% of women and 62% of men say abortion should be legal in all or most cases.

This majority reflects a shared belief: abortion is healthcare, and access strengthens families and communities.

Abortion access is adapting—and so are we.

Behind every data point is a person making the best decision for themselves. Abortion access will continue to grow stronger—through technology, compassion, and community support.

No matter how laws change or where people seek care, I Need An A will still be here—protecting privacy and helping abortion seekers understand every option available to them.

We work directly with clinics, abortion funds, and community networks to keep our information accurate, responsive, and reflective of what’s really happening across the country.

As access evolves, we’ll keep updating, adapting, and building the tools that protect abortion access for everyone. 💜

References

Abortion access is constantly changing, but the data remains clear and consistent. Here are the key studies and organizations that keep us grounded in facts.

• Foster, D.G. et al. (2015). Decision Rightness and Emotional Responses to Abortion: Results From a Longitudinal Study. PLOS One. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0128832
• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2018). The Safety and Quality of Abortion Care in the United States. https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/24950
• Society of Family Planning. (2025). #WeCount Report 9: December 2024 Data. https://societyfp.org/wecount/
• Abortion Care Network. (2024). Communities Need Clinics. https://www.abortioncarenetwork.org/communities-need-clinics/
• World Health Organization. (2022). Abortion Care Guideline. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240039483
• KFF. (2022). 10 Things to Know About Abortion. https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/fact-sheet/fact-sheet-10-things-to-know-about-abortion/
• Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI). (2023). American Values Atlas. https://www.prri.org/american-values-atlas/
• National Library of Medicine (PubMed). (Various). Research on Abortion Care for Transgender and Nonbinary People. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
• PubMed Central (PMC). (2022). Barriers to Early Abortion Care and Delays in Access. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9382185/
• Axios/Ipsos. (2024). American Health Index Poll on Abortion Medication. https://www.axios.com/2024/03/29/abortion-pill-supreme-court-case-poll
• ABC News/Washington Post. (2023). National Poll on Abortion Attitudes. (Original poll available through ABC News and Washington Post reporting.)
• Fox News. (2024). National Voter Poll on Medication Abortion. (Summary available through Fox News reporting.)