In 2024, the number of abortions in the United States has risen further following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, according to the latest findings from #WeCount, a project led by the Society of Family Planning that advocates for legal abortion.
The report, launched just ahead of the third anniversary of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, revealed that approximately 1.14 million abortions were conducted by licensed providers across the nation in 2024, an increase from the 1.06 million documented in 2023.
Notably, 25% of abortions in 2024 were facilitated through telehealth services, representing a significant increase from only 5% in 2022.
Dr. Alison Norris, co-chair of #WeCount and a professor at The Ohio State University’s College of Public Health, commented on the findings, emphasizing that abortion bans have not deterred individuals from seeking necessary care.
“As care shifts across state lines and into telehealth settings, a fragmented system is emerging where access to services is highly dependent on geographic location, financial means, and the ability to overcome various barriers,” Norris stated.
The annual report, generated from data submitted by abortion providers, sheds light on industry trends as seen by these professionals. It focuses solely on abortions performed by licensed clinicians within the healthcare framework and does not include illegal or self-managed procedures that may not be captured in formal health records, such as medications obtained internationally for abortion.
The recent developments have drawn varied reactions, especially from religious groups. U.S. Catholic leaders expressed their support for the Dobbs ruling as a means to empower states to safeguard preborn lives. Bishop Daniel Thomas of Toledo stated in a June 16 message that the battle for life is ongoing despite the ruling.
According to the #WeCount findings, estimates from the Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI), which opposes abortion, align closely with these figures, projecting annual abortions in the U.S. at a minimum of 1.1 million.
This CLI study also referenced #WeCount data due to the voluntary nature of abortion reporting to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which contributes to an incomplete overview of the abortion landscape.
Mia Steupert, a research associate at CLI and co-author of their report, expressed that abortion data is critical to understanding the impact of legislation on abortion trends. “However, only pro-abortion organizations like Society of Family Planning and Guttmacher Institute have unfiltered access to raw_data from abortion centers, which would be instrumental in evaluating policies regarding the termination of unborn life,” she stated.
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, affiliated with CLI, recognized the increase in abortions noted in the report and called it a significant alert for the nation. Dannenfelser urged Congress to restrict taxpayer funding to Planned Parenthood.
“We are at the beginning of our fight to save unborn children and nowhere near the end,” Dannenfelser remarked on June 23. “With taxpayer support, Big Abortion, led by Planned Parenthood, is working against states’ efforts to protect unborn lives through mail-order abortions, which not only terminate pregnancies but often result in women requiring emergency medical care.”
Historically, the CDC recorded its peak abortion rates in the early 1990s, reaching nearly 1.4 million at that time.
This evolving scenario in the abortion debate continues to spark discussions regarding access to reproductive healthcare and the implications of recent legal changes across states.
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