Abortions
General Statistics

These are the most recent statistics available as of November, 1996.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 1995. Hyattsville, MD: Public Health Service. 1996. Table 16, page 95 et al.

1973 1975 1980 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992
Number of legal abortions reported (in thousands)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 616 855 1,298 1,329 1,328 1,354 1,371 1,397 1,430 1,389 1,359
Alan Guttmacher Institute ¹ 745 1,034 1,554 1,589 1,574 1,559 1,591 1,567 1,609 1,557 1,529
Period of gestation Percent distribution ²
Under 9 weeks 36.1 44.6 51.7 50.3 51.0 50.4 48.7 49.8 51.6 52.3 52.1
Under 7 weeks 13.7
7 weeks 15.0
8 weeks 21.4
9-10 weeks 29.4 28.4 26.2 26.6 25.8 26.0 26.4 25.8 25.3 25.1 24.2
11-12 weeks 17.9 14.9 12.2 12.5 12.2 12.4 12.7 12.6 11.7 11.5 12.0
13-15 weeks 6.9 5.0 5.1 5.9 6.1 6.2 6.6 6.6 6.4 6.1 6.0
16-20 weeks 8.0 6.1 3.9 3.9 4.1 4.2 4.5 4.2 4.0 3.9 4.2
21 weeks and over 1.7 1.0 0.9 0.8 0.8 0.8 1.1 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.5
Type of procedure Percent distribution ²
Curettage 88.4 90.9 95.5 97.5 97.0 97.2 98.6 98.8 98.8 98.9 98.9
Intrauterine instillation 10.4 6.2 3.1 1.7 1.4 1.3 1.1 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.7
Other ³ 1.2 2.8 1.4 0.8 1.6 1.5 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4
Previous induced abortions Percent distribution ²
0 81.9 67.6 60.1 59.3 58.5 57.8 58.1 57.1 56.1 55.1
1 14.9 23.5 25.7 26.3 26.5 26.9 26.5 26.9 27.2 27.4
2 2.5 6.6 9.8 9.6 10.3 10.4 9.9 10.1 10.6 11.0
3 or more 0.7 2.3 4.4 4.8 4.7 4.9 5.5 5.9 6.1 6.5

	1973	1975	1980	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992
	Number of legal abortions reported (in thousands)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention	616	855	1,298	1,329	1,328	1,354	1,371	1,397	1,430	1,389	1,359
Alan Guttmacher Institute ¹	745	1,034	1,554	1,589	1,574	1,559	1,591	1,567	1,609	1,557	1,529
Period of gestation	Percent distribution ²
Under 9 weeks	36.1	44.6	51.7	50.3	51.0	50.4	48.7	49.8	51.6	52.3	52.1
Under 7 weeks											13.7
7 weeks											15.0
8 weeks											21.4
9-10 weeks	29.4	28.4	26.2	26.6	25.8	26.0	26.4	25.8	25.3	25.1	24.2
11-12 weeks	17.9	14.9	12.2	12.5	12.2	12.4	12.7	12.6	11.7	11.5	12.0
13-15 weeks	6.9	5.0	5.1	5.9	6.1	6.2	6.6	6.6	6.4	6.1	6.0
16-20 weeks	8.0	6.1	3.9	3.9	4.1	4.2	4.5	4.2	4.0	3.9	4.2
21 weeks and over	1.7	1.0	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.8	1.1	1.0	1.0	1.1	1.5
Type of procedure	Percent distribution ²
Curettage	88.4	90.9	95.5	97.5	97.0	97.2	98.6	98.8	98.8	98.9	98.9
Intrauterine instillation	10.4	6.2	3.1	1.7	1.4	1.3	1.1	0.9	0.8	0.7	0.7
Other ³	1.2	2.8	1.4	0.8	1.6	1.5	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.4	0.4
Previous induced abortions	Percent distribution ²
0		81.9	67.6	60.1	59.3	58.5	57.8	58.1	57.1	56.1	55.1
1		14.9	23.5	25.7	26.3	26.5	26.9	26.5	26.9	27.2	27.4
2		2.5	6.6	9.8	9.6	10.3	10.4	9.9	10.1	10.6	11.0
3 or more		0.7	2.3	4.4	4.8	4.7	4.9	5.5	5.9	6.1	6.5

Data are based on reporting by State health departments and by hospitals and other facilities. Data for 1992 represents reporting from 38 states plus the District of Columbia and New York City.

Many questions have been raised about the accuracy of these statistics, but they are nevertheless the best available.

Footnotes

1. The Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI) is a research organization affiliated with Planned Parenthood, which is the nation's leading abortion provider. Their estimates are based on an annual survey of over 3,000 abortion providers, including hospitals, clinics, and individual abortionists. AGI's estimates of total abortions are typically 10 to 20% higher than the governments.

No survey was conducted in 1986, 1989, or 1990; data for these years are estimated.

2. Excludes cases for which selected characteristic is unknown.

3. Includes hysterotomy and hysterectomy.

Pregnant Pause Home

Statistics

Search this site

Posted 16 Sep 2000.

Abortions General Statistics

Footnotes

Abortions
General Statistics