Abortion deaths U.S. 1973-2021| ��ƽ��

Number of abortion-related deaths reported in the U.S. from 1973 to 2021

Characteristic	Number of deaths
2021	5
2020	6
2019	4
2018	2
2017	3
2016	8
2015	3
2014	6
2013	4
2012	4
2011	2
2010	10
2009	8
2008	12
2007	6
2006	7
2005	7
2004	8
2003	10
2002	10
2001	8
2000	11
1999	4
1998	9
1997	7
1996	9
1995	4
1994	12
1993	9
1992	10
1991	12
1990	9
1989	13
1988	16
1987	9
1986	13
1985	13
1984	12
1983	12
1982	12
1981	9
1980	12
1979	22
1978	16
1977	21
1976	14
1975	34
1974	33
1973	47

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Release date

November 2024

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Region

United States

Survey time period

1973 to 2021

Age group

15-44 years

Supplementary notes

Includes both legal and illegal abortions. An abortion is defined as legal if it was performed by a licensed clinician within the limits of state law. An abortion is defined as illegal if it was performed by any person other than a licensed clinician.

Citation formats

The number of abortion-related deaths in the U.S. has decreased dramatically since 1973. In 1973, the number of deaths related to abortions was 47. In 2021, the number of reported deaths related to abortions had decreased to just five. Abortion is the act of ending a pregnancy so that it does not result in the birth of a baby.

Abortions in the U.S.

Abortions can be performed in a surgical setting or a medical setting (the pill). The number of legal abortions reported in the U.S. has generally declined yearly since 1990. The most frequently performed kind of abortion in the U.S. in 2022 were medical abortions. Abortion and the legality and morality of the procedure has been a publicly debated topic in the United States for many years.

Public opinions on abortion

Opinions on abortion in the United States can be divided into two campaigns. Pro-choice is the belief that women have the right to decide when they want to become pregnant and if they want to terminate the pregnancy through an abortion. Pro-life, is the belief that women should not be able to choose to have an abortion. As of 2023, around 52 percent of the U.S. population was pro-choice, while 44 percent considered themselves pro-life. However, these shares have fluctuated over the past couple decades, with a majority of people saying they were pro-life as recently as 2019.