Support for legalization of abortion U.S. 2023, by reason and religion| ��ƽ��

Share of adults who support legalization of abortion in the following circumstances in the United States in 2023, by religion

Characteristic	Protestant	Catholic	Mormon	Jewish	Muslim	Buddhist	Hindu	Atheist or agnostic	Nothing in particular	Other
If the patient’s health is endangered	61%	59%	49%	81%	50%	72%	69%	93%	77%	57%
If the patient's life is endangered	74%	68%	60%	85%	53%	73%	68%	95%	82%	63%
In cases of rape or incest	70%	69%	61%	82%	52%	70%	71%	95%	85%	68%
If the fetus is not expected to survive	57%	57%	37%	76%	41%	69%	65%	93%	75%	55%
If the fetus is expected to have serious birth defects	49%	49%	32%	75%	40%	65%	65%	90%	70%	47%
For women who do not wish to be pregnant	30%	33%	25%	62%	26%	58%	57%	82%	57%	37%
Under no circumstances	10%	9%	11%	3%	11%	2%	1%	1%	4%	10%
No answer	2%	4%	2%	2%	6%	2%	5%	1%	2%	5%

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Source

Release date

September 2023

More information

Region

United States

Survey time period

August 24 to 31, 2023

Number of respondents

20,191 respondents

Age group

18 years and older

Method of interview

Telephone interviews and online survey

Supplementary notes

Original question: “In which, if any, of the following circumstances do you think abortion should be legal? (Select all that apply)”

Citation formats

In 2023, at least six-in-ten American adults among almost all religious groups believed that abortion should be legal in the case of rape or incest, Muslim Americans were the only exception with 52 percent. On the other hand, fewer than one-in-ten respondents among most religious groups believed that abortion should not be legal in the United States, regardless of the circumstance. This statistic illustrates the share of support toward the legalization of abortion in the United States in 2023, by circumstance and religion.