How many abortions are performed in the US each year?

Answer 1

In 2006, 846,181 legal induced abortions were reported to CDC from 49 reporting areas. This total presents a 3% increase from the 820,151 abortions reported for 2005. The abortion rate for 2006 was 16.1 legal induced abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years. This also represents a 3% increase from 2005. The abortion ratio was 236 legal induced abortions per 1,000 live births in 2006. This represents no change from 2005. During the previous decade (1997-2006), reported abortion numbers, rates, and ratios decreased 5.7%, 8.8%, and 14.8%, respectively; most of these declines occurred before 2001. During the previous decade (1997-2006), women aged 20-29 years accounted for the majority of abortions (57%). Also a higher number of abortions were obtained by white women and unmarried women. The majority (62.0%) of abortions in 2006 were performed at ≤8 weeks' gestation. Source: MMWR2009;58(SS08):1-35.