In the US there are approximately 1,370,000 abortions annually reported by the Alan Guttmacher Institute, the research arm of Planned Parenthood. There are approximately 3,700 per day.

In comparison, 1,138,244 people have died in ALL the U.S. wars since the Revolutionary War. Please note the following statistics for war deaths:

• Revolutionary War: 4,435 deaths
• War of 1812: 2,260
• Mexican War: 13,283
• Civil War (both sides): 498,332 deaths
• Spanish-American War: 2,446
• World War I ; 116,708 deaths
• World War II; 407,316 deaths
• Korea: 33,651 deaths
• Vietnam; 58,168 deaths
• Gulf War: 293 deaths
• Afghan & War on Terror: 135 deaths
Irac War; 1,217 deaths (as of November 18, 2004)

The total number of U.S. Abortions since 1973, when abortion on demand was legalized by the U.S. Supreme Court, total approximately 45,000,000 (45 million).

A survey of 10,000 women obtaining abortions in 2000 - 2001 in the U.S. conducted by the Alan Guttmacher institute (Planned Parenthood), showed that 21 women out of every 1,000 of reproductive age had an abortion. Women aged 18-29. unmarried, black or Hispanic, or economically disadvantaged - including those on Medicaid - have higher abortion rates. The overall abortion rate decreased by 11% between 1994 and 2000. The decline was greatest for 15-17 year olds, women in the highest income category, those with college degrees and those with no religious affiliation. Abortion rates for women in lowest income category and among women on Medicaid and for poor teenagers increased.

The majority (78%) of women older than 17 who had an abortion reported a religious affiliation. Women with no religious affiliation (22%) experienced the largest decline in abortion (35%) of all the groups examined.

Who's having abortions (age)?

52% of women having abortions in the U.S. are under 25; aged 20-24 obtain 32% of all abortions; Teenagers obtain 20% and under 15 account for 1.2%

Who's having abortions (race)?

White women have 60% of all abortions, but their abortion rate (per 1,000) is well below that of minority women. Black women are more than 3 times as likely to have an abortion, and Hispanic women are roughly twice as likely.

Why women have abortions:

Only 1% of all abortions occur because of rape or incest. 6% occur because of potential health problems for either the mother or child, and 93% of all abortions occur for social reasons (i.e. financial or the child is unwanted or inconvenient).

Choice or Coercion?

A special 21 page report on Forced Abortion in America published by the Elliot Institute in the summer of 2004 notes that up to 60% of abortions in America are coerced. Coercion often comes from parents (including boyfriend's parents), husbands, boyfriends, doctors, counselors and others. 8 of 10 Post Abortive women surveyed would have given birth if given support. Over 70% believed abortion is morally wrong.

Reasons given for having abortions:

• Forced by mother
• Father opposed pregnancy
• Husband or boyfriend insisted
• No other option given
• Would have been kicked out
• Loss of family support
• Lack of support from society
• Clinic persuaded me
• School counselor persuaded me

When during the pregnancy are abortions done?

Abortion is legal in the US throughout the nine months of pregnancy. 52% of all abortions are done before the 9th week. 25% are done between the 9th and 10th week. 12% between the 11th and 12th week, 6% between the 13th and 15th week, 4% between 16th and 20th week, and 1% (16,450 a year) after the 20th week.

An estimated 43% of all women in the U.S. will have at least one abortion by the time they are 45 years old. 47% of all abortions are performed on women who have had at least one previous abortion.

Sources: US War deaths; Dept. of Defense Records.
Abortion Statistics; Alan Guttmacher Institute, www.agi-usa.org
Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health Volume 34, Number 5, Sept./Oct.2002.
and Family Planning Perspectives
Elliot Institute, www.afterabortion.org

A growing body of research is showing the negative impact of abortion on the physical, mental and emotional health of women and families.

A study in Finnland of all women of reproductive age (15 - 49) who died between 1987 and 1994 - looked at the national health care database to identify any pregnancy related events for the women during the 12 months prior to their death. They found that compared to women who carried to term, women who aborted were 60 percent more likely to die of natural causes, seven times more likely to die of suicide, four times more likely to die of injuries related to accidents, and 14 times more likely to die of homicide. Researchers believe the higher rate of deaths related to accidents and homicide may be linked to higher rates of suicidal or risk taking behavior.

An expanded study covered the years 1987 - 2000 and found that women who carried to term had 28.2 deaths per 100.000 compared to 83.1 for women who had abortions, while women who were not pregnant had 57.00 deaths and those who mis-carried 51.9 deaths per 100.000. The researchers concluded that pregnancy contributes to a healthy effect on women.

Source: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Febr. 2004

A California study of approximately 173.000 low income women linked death records to Medi-Cal payments for births and abortions. Researchers found that women who had abortions were almost twice as likely to die in the following two years and that the higher mortality rate of aborting women persisted over at least eight years.

Both The Finnish and California studies found a longer term elevated risk of cardio-vascular diseases in aborting women. The California study found that women who had abortions were nearly three times more likely to die of circulatory disease and five times more likely to die from cerebrovascular disease during the subsequent eight year period. Researchers believe that higher levels of depression and anxiety following abortion may explain this result.

Southern Medical Journal Aug. 2002

Suicide rates among young women tripled in past 25 years.

A National Institute of Health report shows that suicide is now the third leading cause of death among America's young people. For teen girls and young women the suicide rate has tripled over the last 25 years. At the same time, suicide rates for Americans in general are dropping across the country. An Elliot institute study published in the Southern Medical Journal in August 2003 found that women who had abortions were seven times more likely to commit suicide than women who gave birth. Unwanted abortion are a reality for teens and young women who are often pressured by boyfriends or parents to have abortion, says Dr. David Reardon, director of the Elliot Institute.

Other studies have found higher rates of depressions, mental illness, miscarriages and substance abuse among post-abortive women compared to women who gave birth.

A study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry in the summer of 2002, found that children whose mothers have a history of abortion tend to have less emotional support at home and more behavioral problems than children whose mothers have not had abortions. "Unresolved feelings about a past abortion can often impede bonding with subsequent children," says Dr. David Reardon co-author of the study. "Feelings of love for a newborn also give rise to intense feelings of grief and despair over the children who were not born."

If you have suffered the loss of a child by abortion - please click on Post Abortion Healing for help in grieving and reconciliation.