The Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision was a historic victory for the pro-life movement.
But shocking new data shows abortion numbers are still climbing nationwide.
And a new report reveals the appalling number of abortions that took place in America last year despite pro-life gains.
New data confirms over one million unborn lives lost to abortion in 2024
A sobering new report from the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute reveals that an estimated 1,038,000 abortions were carried out in states without total bans in 2024.
This alarming figure represents a 12% increase from 2020, meaning more than 100,000 additional abortions compared to just four years ago.
“An estimated 1,038,000 abortions were provided by clinicians in states without total bans in 2024, a less than 1% increase from 2023 and an increase of 12% from 2020,” the Guttmacher Institute stated in their latest report.
The data shows the abortion rate in 2024 stands at 15.4 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44, a 7% increase from the already jaw-dropping 2020 rate.
This data doesn’t even include “self-managed abortions,” such as those using medications mailed from pharmacies outside the United States, which the report admits have likely increased since the Dobbs decision.
“Evidence suggests self-managed abortions have increased since Dobbs,” the report confirms, indicating the true number of abortions may be even higher than reported.
Medication abortions reach record levels nationwide
One of the most concerning trends in the Guttmacher report is the dramatic rise in medication abortions, which now account for 63% of all clinician-provided abortions in states without total bans in 2023, up from 53% in 2020.
“Medication abortion accounted for 63% of all clinician-provided abortions in states without total bans in 2023; by contrast, this method accounted for 53% of abortions in 2020,” the institute reported.
The FDA permanently removed the in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone in December 2021, allowing abortion pills to be prescribed via telemedicine and sent through the mail.
This policy change has contributed to the surge in chemical abortions across the country.
In some states, medication abortions now account for the vast majority of abortions, reaching as high as 95% in Wyoming and 84% in Montana according to the report.
Virtual abortion clinics have also emerged as a major factor, now accounting for 14% of all abortions in states without total bans, up from 10% in 2023.
“In 2024, they accounted for 14% of clinician-provided abortions in states without total bans, an increase from 10% in 2023,” the report states regarding online-only clinics.
Pro-life states making a difference despite national trends
Despite the nationwide increase in abortions, the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision has had a significant impact in states with strong pro-life laws.
According to the report, 14 states with total abortion bans had zero abortion clinics operating as of March 2024, compared to 63 such clinics in 2020.
The Guttmacher report revealed that all 63 abortion clinics operating in 14 states back in 2020 have now been shut down thanks to strong pro-life laws.
“As of March 2024, there were no clinics providing abortion care in the 14 states with total abortion bans,” the report added.
But pro-abortion radicals haven’t given up. They’ve set up underground networks to shuttle women to abortion-friendly states instead.
The numbers tell the story – approximately 155,000 women crossed state lines to end their pregnancies in 2024.
“In 2024, approximately 155,000 people crossed state lines to access abortion care, representing 15% of all abortions provided in states without total bans,” the report states.
The share of abortion patients who traveled out of state for abortions increased from 9% in 2020 to 15% in 2024, demonstrating the impact of state-level protections for the unborn.
The demographics of abortion in America
The Guttmacher data provides important insights about who obtains abortions in America.
Pro-abortion activists love to talk about teenagers being hurt by abortion restrictions. But the numbers tell a different story.
Teens are barely a blip in abortion statistics. The Guttmacher report shows only one in ten abortions involved adolescents, and a tiny 2% were performed on girls 17 or younger.
So much for the narrative about protecting young girls.
The majority of abortions are obtained by women in their 20s, with 33% aged 20-24 and 28% aged 25-29.
The report also confirms that abortion disproportionately impacts lower-income Americans, with 41% of those obtaining abortions having incomes below the federal poverty level and another 30% having incomes between 100% and 199% of the federal poverty level.
“Some 41% of people obtaining abortions had an income below the federal poverty level (FPL) and 30% had incomes between 100% and 199% of the FPL,” according to the report.
Taxpayer funding plays significant role in abortion numbers
The Guttmacher data reveals the significant role of government funding in financing abortions in America.
According to the report, Medicaid was used to pay for 30% of abortions in 2021-2022, making it the second most common payment method after out-of-pocket payments.
“Medicaid was the second most common method of payment and was used by 30% of people obtaining abortions,” the report states.
This means government programs are funding a significant percentage of abortions annually, despite moral objections from many Americans who oppose abortion.
Additionally, another 15% of abortions were paid for using “financial assistance” according to the report, which includes funding from abortion advocacy organizations.
“Fifteen percent relied on financial assistance (such as donations from abortion funds) to pay for some or all of the cost of their care,” the report confirms.
What it means
The Guttmacher Institute data reveals a troubling picture of abortion in America, with over one million unborn children losing their lives in 2024 alone.
While pro-life states have made significant progress in protecting life since the Dobbs decision, abortion rates have risen nationally compared to pre-Dobbs levels.
The dramatic increase in medication abortions and the emergence of virtual abortion providers represent new challenges for the pro-life movement.
This report underscores the ongoing need for life-affirming alternatives to abortion and continued support for pro-life legislation at the state level.
The stark reality of over one million abortions annually should prompt serious reflection on how society can better support women and families while protecting innocent unborn life.
