Abortions in the U.S. reported by state officials to the federal government jumped 5% in the year before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Among the 46 states that reported data in both years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Wednesday that the number of abortions rose from 592,939 in 2020 to 622,108 in 2021. The Supreme Court in June 2022 overturned Roe, which for five decades had guaranteed the right to an abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy.
The 5% increase in 2021 pushed the national rate of abortions from 11.1 to 11.6 for every 100,000 women between the ages of 15 and 44.
The final tally of abortions in 2021 was likely even higher: The annual CDC report likely undercounts abortions because California, Maryland and New Hampshire do not report their numbers and New Jersey did not report them in 2021. Other reports that draw numbers directly from abortion providers have found that California provides more abortions than any other state.
“In most states and jurisdictions, the collection of abortion data is facilitated by a legal requirement for hospitals, facilities, or physicians to report abortions to a central health agency; however, reporting is not complete in all areas, including in certain areas with reporting requirements,” the CDC said.
The report comes as abortions have increased in recent years, reversing a long-term trend, as abortion pills have become the most popular way of terminating a pregnancy.
During the 10 years ending in 2021, the report noted that the number of abortions declined by 8% and the rate fell by 11%.
The share of abortions performed chemically rather than surgically increased from 31.3% in 2016 to 56% in 2021.
Michael New, an assistant professor of social research at the Catholic University of America and scholar at the pro-life Charlotte Lozier Institute, noted that the report is the third time in the past four years that the CDC has reported an abortion increase.
“The increase in chemical abortions is playing a large role in this recent abortion uptick,” Mr. New told The Washington Times.
According to the CDC report, women in their 20s accounted for more than half of all abortions in 2021, consistent with previous trends. More than 9 in 10 abortions occur during the early stages of pregnancy.
The CDC also found that six women died from legally induced abortions in 2021, up from four in 2020.
Reached for comment, some pro-life activists said the report confirms that abortion pills made the procedure more common even before the high court’s June 2022 ruling allowed states to restrict it more tightly.
“I think the abortion industry finds it easier to dispense a drug and send a woman home alone,” said Mary Szoch, director of the Center of Human Dignity at the conservative Family Research Council. “There are no overhead costs, so it’s a bigger moneymaker.”
According to the Human Coalition, a network of pro-life pregnancy resource centers, the report confirms that pro-life activists must work harder to support women in carrying their pregnancies to term.
“Once we meet women where they are, show them we care, and start meeting their tangible needs, they realize they can choose life,” Jeff Bradford, the coalitions’ president, told The Times. “Pro-life leaders must unify and work ever closer together to share resources and best practices, expanding our reach to rescue children and serve women considering abortion.”
• Sean Salai can be reached at ssalai@washingtontimes.com.
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